Heather McIntosh’s Maine Voices piece on Monday calling for “one fair wage” for tipped employees reminded me of a similar sentiment posed by Greg Kesich a couple of weeks ago (“Paying waiters, waitresses a fair wage would serve them right,” July 29).

Speaking from personal experience, I have to agree with Ms. McIntosh that working as a wait person is, indeed, challenging. There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes!

But what better way is there to learn how to treat others than to experience the job of server?

As a waitress at 17, I learned quickly that I had to overcome my shyness and be genuine in order to effect my income. I learned to establish rapport and maintain relationships with clients and coworkers alike.

I learned time management, patience and how to keep a cool head under pressure. To be sure, as Mr. Kesich points out, none of these skills is unique to tipped employees, but tips are a powerful incentive!

For some reason, we have this system in the restaurant business instead of the grocery or newspaper business. But it’s working! If we change it, as Greg Kesich and others recommend, the restaurants will have to adjust to compensate. Where would that adjustment be? How do we determine what is “fair,” and who gets to make that call?

Sure, tip income can be inconsistent. But this encourages persistence, perseverance and strength of character. Over the course of the year, the tips tend to average out well above average (notwithstanding the blizzards mentioned by Mr. Kesich).

Let more people like Heather McIntosh and me have an opportunity to learn some lifelong skills through the incentive of tips. Tipping is fair, it encourages good will, and it’s just good business for Portland’s many wonderful restaurants.

Janet Ham

Portland

Copy the Story Link