Tipping

Thoughts on tipping waitstaff during phased reopening period:

With takeout, a lower tipping rate than usual is normal, because actual service is minimal. But these days, I have been making it a point to tip my usual 20% of the total bill. Waitstaff are, at best, seeing half the customers they saw before COVID. That means half the income, even if tipping follows usual rates. Consider this- you reduce your tip by $5 because it's takeout, not full service. But for a waitress, that's $5 x maybe 20 transactions, so she's getting $100 less per night, times 5 nights per week. Your $5 means she can't pay her rent or make her car payment or pay her tuition. So- please tip full rates, or even better, add something extra for the personnel you have known for some time. I've done time as a waiter, back when I was a teacher. Waitstaff depend on us! This is an overdue  message, but better late then never!