> Our waiters/waitresses etc are paid good hourly rates and that is that. You can tip if you get exceptional service from someone, but tipping is most certainly not a common thing.

We don't tip in Australia. But I, for one, am glad when I get tips. I'm working in this situation at the moment. I'm waitressing as a night-job while I get my degree. Technically I don't *need* the money: I get "Youth Allowance" from the government, but technicalities don't pay my phone/gas/electricity bills.

Last night. It was a Wednesday, not normally busy. So there were only 4 waitstaff on. I work in a casual dining atmosphere, Indian Restaurant and Takeaway, seats 120 people. For some reason, everyone and their dog decided that they would eat Indian last night. We had a wait of ten minutes to get a table, for half the night. The wait between ordering and food was about forty minutes, we were telling people on takeaway fifty minutes, and usually they'd have to wait a couple of minutes before getting their meal.
Meanwhile, the four of us were setting up tables, breaking up tables, cleaning, serving getting drinks, getting spare napkins oh could fill my water jug, I want chopped onions on the table (said in a thick Indian Accent), do you have a baby chair? do you have somewhere I could put the pram/dirty nappies/drycleaned suit (I am not kidding), taking orders, apologising profusely (I'm sorry, your table is ready now, I'm sorry, we've run out of lassi, would you like a juice instead), returning food (The papadums are not as crisp as you would like them? It may be because the kitchen is a sauna), translating (Reeata? Oh, you mean Raita*, paanch naan? paanch... is that Hindi for 4 or 5?), cleaning up spilled water and curries and I don't know what that is I just hope the person doesn't have AIDs...oh and staying cheerful, even though my feet ached, my back ached, (and did I mention that one of the four was a beginner, so not fast, not able to take orders and not able to take more than two or three plates from a table at anyone time?)I did not have a pocket on my apron, my shoes are falling apart (Why did they choose that night to fall apart?), and I know if the customers stay after 11pm, it means that I have to stay after 11pm, and I don't get paid after 11pm, except for what I earn in tips.

So, yes, I'm grateful, exceedingly so, if you tip me.

That saying, I'm glad that tipping isn't mandatory in Australia, because I don't expect a Tip if I'm not working to my best.

sam"whew!"hael

*Why do people insist on pronouncing Raita "Reeata". Isn't it obvious? Raaa-eet-a. Or even Rayta would be fine (seeing aas correct pronunciation is somewhere betwwen those two), but Riata it isn't.