outland144k
pauloI've never really got my head around the expectation that I should reward someone for doing the basic thing that they are already being paid to do.
Above and beyond the call of duty then fair enough, but that rarely seems to happen in this country,
I[font="'book antiqua', palatino; color: #003366"]'m not sure from where you hail, but often in the USA, waiters/waitresses don't get paid enough to cover the description of "what they're paid to do". It is assumed by both management and the waiting staff that they will be tipped and it is considered an amount to be worked somewhat into what they make from the establishment. I assume that there is some sort of differential (and I'm[style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; color: #003366;"] not[font="'book antiqua', palatino; color: #003366"] sure that all clubs use the same one), but I can't tell you what the formula is. That's why some waiting gigs at some clubs are to be desired more than others: some bars and restaurants have a better tipping clientele than others.
Oops, Craig beat me to it (and used far fewer than I to describe the situation). 
I think the US system is disgusting, frankly. If you want staff, then frigging pay them. Their service is obviously useful enough for you to require them, pay them for their service.
We don't do tipping in the UK, but the insidious US culture is creeping in everywhere, making people think it's "ok" to expect tips.