Gratuities.

[cooperhawk]

Carol and I are financially comfortable. Not rich, just comfortable. That means when the children need a boost, we can help. It's a nice feeling.
We eat lunch out a lot. Well, most every day anyway. Carol still likes to work, so she works till eleven and then we go to lunch. Usually someplace different each day. Life is good. Then most days dinner is at home, although about once a week or so we go out to dinner as well.
My point? Almost everywhere we go there are "Help Wanted" signs. Why? Well I guess folks get more money staying home than working. OK, not going there. Political.
So what I have been doing is giving larger tips to those who work. Instead of 20%, I give 25% or even higher. It's my reward for those willing to work, and if others follow my lead it may bring others back to work when they hear of higher rewards.
I have a Grand son in law who works as a waiter and although he's far away, I hope others are doing the same for him.

[Hatchdog]

I like that Coop, we were doing the same during the extreme shutdowns last year. I’m going to follow your lead.

[BigAl52]

Ive done much of the same including leaving a tip when I pick up an order to go. Not just a couple bucks but more.

[Kissmybrass]

Henry people are such good people. I wish everybody would help each other out in this world. And not just around the Holidays. When I run food and socks downtown to help out the homeless the best times to help are when there's not an event or holiday.

[dave77]

At least in WA state where our minimum wage is now close to $15 a hour they are making decent wages, I still leave 20% in average restaurants, I don't go to fancy, high class places where they probably expect more. Quite a few years ago there was a show about a vegas casino, the bartender/waitress in the high roller lounge was making over $100,000 a year with tips, said it was very common for someone to pay for a drink with a $50 bill and say keep the change.

I don't understand why there is still such a worker shortage, the extra federal unemployment money ended a couple of months ago and there is also a limit on how long you can draw unemployment.

https://www.indeed.com/career/restauran ... alaries/WA

[cooperhawk]

$15.00 an hour times forty hours a week it $600.00, times fifty two weeks it is $32,100.00 a year.
That's not too bad if you're a couple with two incomes, but for single women, often with children, that's
not very good. They work hard for what they get and I don't mind helping them out.
Besides, in our state that's not the minimum wage............yet.
Now in small towns where it's cheaper to live that probably would be pretty good, but not in the greater
Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan area. We're way out in the country, but still close enough for this to
be the case.

[dave77]

I agree. I guess some states are still paying around $8 minimum wage, I don't see how even a couple both working for that could get by. A single person making that here would barely make enough to pay rent.

[Sir Henry]

The $15 an hour in Seattle is not enough to live on. Not when housing is so expensive. Gas is over $4, milk is almost that much. You will be living in poverty.

The $15 an hour was supposed to compensate for tips and we were told not to tip. The price of restaurant food jumped when the law passed.

[Ernie]

I have been generously tipping since businesses opened back up including take out since at first that was all that was available. Some places still are only open for take out even today since they lack help. I am still tipping more than 20% to those who choose to work in public places hoping to encourage others to return to the workplace by offering a better wage than before.

[JVogler]

I go out to breakfast once a month with a guy from third grade and two others we've known since freshman year of highschool. The youngest of us is 63. We split Bill four ways and always leave a generous tip. Like to finish with a cup of coffee and a little bs session. We always ask is it okay to linger but check out the horizon to make sure we're not taking up a table that the waitress could use.

[wjv16]

The $15 an hour in Seattle is not enough to live on. Not when housing is so expensive. Gas is over $4, milk is almost that much. You will be living in poverty.

I live in SW WA State, in a town of ~15K people, about 15 miles from Vancouver.
Rents for a typical 2 bedroom apartment are running $1,200+ a month + utilities + cable.

So glad I own a home. Bought 21 years ago and my mortgage is less than many of the rents. Though I do have to pay for things like house painting, new appliances, and a new roof every couple of decades. But I also have a lot of equity.

Feel sorry for the young folks coming out of college. Starting salaries aren't that great except for a few fields like engineering. Don't know what their lives will be like when everything costs so darn much $$ and is getting worse every year.