https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1228&context=uresposters

Abstract

Due to discrimination, waiters are less likely to provide good customer service to their black dinners solely based on the assumption that they are poor tippers. The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational study where attentiveness is measured to reflect waiters’ avoidance of African American diners. Assuming waiters start with their preconceived notions about Black customers, this research will use the critical race theory to determine if waiters are less attentive to African American diners. To further understand the subtle discriminatory behavior of waiters toward African Americans, this study analyzes observational data from a sample of waiters (N=40). Findings reveal a subtle difference in attentiveness between races and a higher frequency of waiters’ interaction with White diners compared to African American diners. The study contributes to our understanding of social context of discrimination and the experiences of African Americans in restaurants.

Introduction

Racism and discrimination continue to be salient issues in contemporary society especially in the restaurant industry. In the context of restaurants, African Americans are still discriminated against as waiters provide less customer service due to the assumption that they are poor tippers. However, the reason of that assumption is partially due to the often inadequate service they receive. Also, due to the long history of racial oppression and the continuous race relations in the US, many servers have internalized racial status beliefs which makes African Americans more vulnerable to subtle forms of discrimination when dining in restaurants. Existing survey conducted by Lynn and Brewster tested people’s knowledge of tipping norms to show the ethnic differences in tipping. The comparison of blacks’ and whites’ responses were significantly different as 37.4 percent of Blacks said that the customary restaurant tip in the United States was 15 to 20 percent compared to 71.2 percent of Whites. Additional research state that waiters construct a racist workplace culture through the use of stereotypes, bluntly racist comments, and code words, and racial profiling (Brewster 2015). Brewster mentions in “The Effects of Restaurant Servers’ Perceptions of Customers’ Tipping Behaviors on Service Discrimination” that servers’ sensitivity to demographic tipping differences affects them in ways that they provide poor service. Though most studies highlight the presence of discrimination in the restaurant industry, there’s a lack of quantitative study that reflects waiters’ discriminatory behaviors toward African Americans. The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational, quantitative study where attentiveness is measured to reflect waiters’ avoidance of African Americans. Waiter’s attentiveness to Black diners gives an insight to the subtle discriminatory behavior.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41378957)

Race affects everything in society and this study shed light into the interaction between African American diners and White diners. The results confirm the hypothesis that White waiters spend less time with African American diners than with their own counterparts and are therefore less attentive to African Americans. The limitations of this research include the lack of diversity amongst waiters in the selected restaurants, low count of serving staff and rotating shifts. To improve this research, it is necessary to increase the number of waiters that are observed which should also include African American waiters. Further study can seek to address whether waiters’ attentiveness contributes to diners’ tipping behaviors.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41378986)

1. Not considering or controlling for party size.

2. Not considering or controlling for order size and complexity.

3. Not considering or controlling for time of day.

4. Not considering or controlling for the content of communications between the servers and diners.

And many more!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380669)

Usually I tip 20% regardless of service. Every so often, she pushes to give more to some black dude who did a good job.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379084)

nice! no racism here

edit: nice flame you got me faggot

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379142)

Nah, there is a steakhouse in NYC that is managed by this black dude. He treated us so well when we were broke and thats what I was alluding to. Im sure this guy does very well and doesn't need my money but she insists, every time.

Generally, if I see a kid that reminds me of myself hustling, ill tip a little more. I dont see a problem with that. Its how the world works.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379186)

"Just a preference"

just a nigger

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379328)

just saying

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380936)

The 16yo hostess just seats you where the computer told her--you fucking imbecile. Whites ask for a different table all the time as well.

You're living in Jim Crow before you even sit down! I can only imagine how racist your server is after being triple-sat because his degen coworkers called-off, and "EXCUSE ME! WE NEED REFILLS MORE SAUCE AND I STILL HAVENT GOTTEN DAT STEAK I HAD YOU RECOOK FOR THE 3rd TIME"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379127)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379211)

"talking steakhouses and $$$$ restaurants in NYC with waiters that make six figures"

I'm not racist like at all its just an observation that...most blacks are incredibly racist, and seem to lack basic critical thinking skills

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379238)

The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational study

The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational study

The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational study

The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational study

The theory of discrimination is the foundation of this observational study

Would love to see a controlled study measuring how blacks tip compared to others with the same service, but that would ruin their conclusion.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379632)

Think about it: your parents taught you how to tip. Maybe some mid-level or jolly partner at your law firm if you are from a SPS background. (One of my lol profs taught me how to get a suit well-tailored bc my dad and granddads didn't believe in suits and I didn't know until LS how they're supposed to fit.)

So if structural racism makes it harder for you to get into a good LS, find a legal mentor, etc., then of course you're less likely to be taught the socially correct behaviors (as dictated by whites) re tipping.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379664)

"Go-on son, now you try it!"

But somehow niggers intuitively understand strip clubs or turning tricks

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41379781)

No.

I just paid attention to the world -- TV, news, internet, people talking IRL, etc.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380665)

This says it all. I was a waiter for around ten years and I am fascinated by U.S. tipping culture. I could do a dissertation on it.

When 63.6% of blacks don't even know what a customary restaurant tip is, what do you think those 63.6% are going to tip? Spoiler: nothing! Absofuckinglutely nothing.

If we are going to stereotype there are other bad tippers: foreigners, women, married couples with kids, lesbians. The thing with these other stereotypes is that they at least leave you 10%. Blacks will flat out stiff you regardless of service.

At this one restaurant I worked at, Annabelle's, the waitstaff called blacks "birthdays." They would say, "You just got two birthdays at table four."

Annabelle's would give you a free dessert if it was your birthday. You were supposed to check ID but no one did and so every black person we waited on said it was their birthday for the free dessert. And then we'd get stiffed.

As for the article, I always gave everyone my best service. Even if I got stiffed I wanted to know that it wasn't because of me.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380415)

We get it

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380439)

Couldn’t even get through the first sentence after this whiff

What a joke

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41384724)

Further study? That is one of the best studied aspects of tipping. Many people have written about it, but the king of tipping research is probably Michael Lynn at Cornell. The short answer is that tips and service quality are only very weakly correlated. In one study, Lynn found the correlation was 0.11, IIRC. That's basically nothing.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380660)

https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/71781

"the correlation between tips and evaluations of the service or dining experience had a mean of only .11."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41380661)

Step 2- Black people are treated poorly because racism, of course they tip less, it's because of racist whites! (wait... they've proven that's not the case too? Shit, ok, hold on)

Step 3- Societal racism prevents black people from learning how to tip properly due to racist whites!

Coming soon, step 4- How restaurateur's are combatting systemic racism by removing tipping and why everyone should.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41381042)

I remember telling the hostess to seat all the elderly and blacks at the newest servers table when possible. I'd give her like $5-$10/night if it was clear she put an effort in each night.

I never cared where people were seated.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4691180&forum_id=2#41383817)