"Kathy in NZ" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:30:26 GMT, sarah bennett
> > wrote:
>
>>Kathy in NZ wrote:
>>> On 17 Jan 2006 09:28:58 -0800, "Sheldon" > wrote:
>
>>> Your experience of people ordering enough to take home to feed
>>> themselves for several meals and also offering to leave a tip is
>>> foreign to me. Firstly because we don't tip in NZ. The amount on the
>>> restaurant bill is the total bill. It is not necessary to leave tips
>>> in NZ, though I accept you must tip in some countries.
>>
>>they must pay waitstaff better in NZ. Here in the US, it is legally
>>mandated that you do not have to pay them more than $@ and change per
>>hour, because they are expected to make up the rest with tips.
>>
>
>>saerah
>
> Yes waitstaff are paid a proper wage. That's not to say it's a high
> wage, but they earn more than the legal minimum hourly rate and don't
> rely on tips. New Zealanders don't want to see tipping become a way of
> life here. People are paid to do their job. They shouldn't have to be
> paid extra to do it willingly. Tourists are advised tipping is
> unnecessary everywhere and to everyone here. That's not to say
> waitstaff wouldn't like to be tipped, they would, but only because
> it's icing on the cake. I am only referring here to NZ, not the
> necessity to tip in the US.
>
> Kathy in NZ


It's the same in Australia. Any form of employment gets a proper wage.

Jen