Ok, Quin look at it this way, in Pizza Hut in the uk you earn as front of house waiting staff minimum wage. It's not nearly enough per hour to keep people going, we rely on the tips we get. Sometimes sure 10% isn't a whole lot, the average pizza is no more than 15 pounds (still on polish laptop, no pound sign) the drinks no more than 2 each person unless we go for smoothies or alcohol. Thats 1.70 - 2.00 for tips not much at 10% is it? Factor in 5 tables leaving say around 2 pounds each, thats 10 pounds. 5 tables could be as little as 30 minutes work depending on the customer's speed of eating. that means a waiter technically has the potential to earn 20 an hour in tips from a 5 table section, thats 20 pounds which isn't taxed or shared out thats straight in to the waiter/waitress's back pocket and kept. If no one left a tip thats 1 hours work and it's hard work as well and not pleasant people are basically pigs in general half chewed food, icecream bowls left full of melting icecream and candy sweets, drinks with crushed chilli put in them for no other reason but to be stupid, napkins shoved in drinks which still have pepsi or whatever in them, food, napkins, cutlery on the floor... it's not exactly what I'd call fun for 5.70 an hour. I've never seen every table on a section leave a tip so no worries we're secretly not working 4 hours and going home with around 100 pounds untaxed. More like we'll work 4 hours and go home with 25 pounds and thats when you're VERY good at the job. A good friday/saturday/sunday night closing shift will generally see a waiting staff member take 30 - 50 pounds in tips for 6 - 8 hours work.

So what about adding in service charge, well it's a mighty fine idea sure. 10% on every bill is paid to the staff. However that 10% is split not only with the waiting staff who made you smile, laugh and kept you doing so for the duration of your stay in the restaurant but also the kitchen guy who prepped the food (ok some say thats a good idea, give the chef a tip, however he's likely on more per hour for being BoH staff than the waiter), the manager who is doing nothing but sitting in the office telling people to leave them alone their busy even when in reality they're watching youtube clips and every other waiter in the place, some of whom may have caused you offense. Plus the service charge is not optional, if you don't leave the service charge the management takes it out of the waiting staff's wages. Yeah ouch lets say it's a 100 pound bill thats 10 pounds gone if there are 20 staff for the entire restaurant (and in reality it's likely more) they're going to be lucky to see even 50p of that back.

I am wholly of the opinion that if the service is crap do not leave a tip, in fact if the service is THAT bad speak to a manager. However when some poor waiter/waitress has busted their balls/boobs often picking up burns from super hot plates/pans and generally done an excellent service then yes tipping should be if not enforced then at least the social norm (which thankfully it is) I can understand not tipping in say KFC or Mc Donalds where pay is a lot higher than minimum but a lot of people don't see why they should tip in Pizza Hut but should in Pizza Express (because Pizza Express or Bella Italia is somehow a proper restaurant?) DK said last night that he feels PH is a fast food outlet, but I don't call 20 - 40 mins for food fast food thats full service restaurant times which is where I happen to work.

As for doing what you like with your money? Sure but remember, waiting staff are humans too they're not doing their job for love of it but for the money made. They also have memories like the rest of the human race does and can remember what people look/sound like and how they speak to the staff and I can tell you from experience of being a waiter, if you are a ty customer or you don't tip and leave a huge mess in the restaurant pray you don't get staff who were working that time when you next go in they will generally remember you and well just think, we prepare your food out of sight of customers and it's very easy for stuff to happen to it. Same goes, if you are a good customer and leave a nice tip maybe not a huge tip but a decent one say 3 pounds minimum is a decent enough tip for the average bill you will be remembered and people will honestly do their best to have you on their sections again and to serve you because you're easy and leave good tips your service will be even better and if there is anything wrong with the food prior to serving the waiting staff will fix it even if it means they must go downstairs and do something like put it in the oven for a few more minutes themselves.

It pays to tip people remember this.