(often in the plural: discretionary powers) a power that a person can use if that person thinks that it is suitable given the situation and circumstances. “The Administrator shall have the discretionary power to determine all questions arising in connection with the administration of the Plan.”

When used as adjectives, discretionary means available at one’s discretion, whereas optional means not compulsory. Available at one’s discretion; able to be used as one chooses; left to or regulated by one’s own discretion or judgment.

: not left to discretion or exercised at one’s own discretion : not discretionary nondiscretionary purchases such as food and housing During the first half of the 1990s, Americans were forced to spend more for certain nondiscretionary items …—

Tips are discretionary (optional or extra) payments determined by a customer that employees receive from customers. The payment should not be the subject of negotiation or dictated by employer policy; and. The customer should generally have the right to determine who receives the payment.

Service charges are imposed on food bills, either as a “discretionary” or “compulsory” fee. The customer can only refuse to pay it if the service was poor. Discretionary service charge: Can be added to the bill receipt at the end of the meal, but the customer can decide not to pay it in any case.

If the service charge is not clearly displayed as compulsory on the menu or on signs say in the window then it is optional and you can freely remove it from the bill whether or not you received good service. If the service charge is displayed as compulsory then unless the service is particularly poor you must pay it.

Tip and gratuity is the same thing. There is no need to leave anything extra unless you feel the server deserves more than that 18%. Gratuities are made AFTER the service is performed. A tips are made before it.

The change in the law means that restaurant operators in most states — including the seven states that do not have a tip credit (California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Minnesota, Montana and Alaska) — are now free to ask servers to tip out the back of the house provided they pay employees at least the full minimum …

If an amount is included as a “Gratuity” or “Service Charge,” tipping is not required. If the tip is included, the breakdown of the bill will read “gratuity” or “service charge,” which means that a tip is already included.

Is “Tip” an Acronym for “To Insure Promptness”? No. Along with “to insure proper service,” it’s a popular myth, but there are several reasons why this account of the origins of the term doesn’t fly. A typically Vegas word for tip is “toke,” short for “token of appreciation.”

1 : the usually pointed end of something a pencil tip. 2 : a small piece or part serving as an end, cap, or point. on the tip of one’s tongue. 1 : about to be uttered it was on the tip of my tongue to say exactly what I thought.

Tipping is traced back to 17th century England. The custom originated in Europe, and while its history is not entirely clear, it is commonly traced back to 17th century England. The word “tip” is speculated to be an acronym for “To Insure Promptitude,” which was printed on bowls in British coffeehouses.

to insure prompt service

TIPPING is a hallmark of dining out in America. But it is controversial. The gratuity system ensures that it is the diners who determine a server’s pay. Those who support the practice say it rewards dutiful service; others call it capricious and argue that a professional server’s wages should not be discretionary.

“What happens if you don’t tip”: If you do not tip, federal law asks that the restaurant pay the employee the difference. If you don’t want to tip a server, you can order the meal to go, or cook at home.

How to Tip Around the World

• Canada. Canada generally follows similar guidelines as the U.S., so tip 15 to 20 percent at restaurants.
• Mexico. Tipping guidelines are similar to the U.S., so tip 10 to 15 percent in restaurants and bars.
• United Kingdom. Restaurants, especially in cities, often add a service charge.
• France.
• Italy.
• Spain.
• Croatia.
• Scandinavia.

The Japanese believe that you are already paying for good service so there is no need to pay extra. Some may even view a tip as a crass gesture so do abide by this good rule of thumb: in Japan, no matter how odd it may seem to you, do not tip. Just be polite and thank your waiter or waitress for their service.

In the US, yes it is extremely rude not to tip, barring extreme rudeness from the service. You don’t have to say “please” or “thank you,” or to desist from calling receptionists obscene names, either.

Note, tipping in countries where it is not customary, or where service fees and gratuity are included, is often still appreciated.

• China. Typically, nobody tips in China.
• French Polynesia. Tipping in French Polynesia is not mandatory or expected.
• Japan.
• Korea.
• Hong Kong.
• Switzerland.
• Australia.
• Belgium.

Tipping in South Korea isn’t customary, and is therefore not expected or an obligation. You won’t offend someone by not tipping, but there are times when a small token of appreciation is welcome, such as in Western-influenced businesses or when hotel services are exemplary. …

While tipping is pretty much mandatory in the U.S., not all countries play by the same rules. In fact, in some destinations, like Japan, a tip is actually considered an offensive display of wealth and pity—leave a 20% tip at dinner in a restaurant and you could actually ruin someone’s day.

Tipping is not customary in Japan. In fact, it can be considered rude and insulting in many situations. Most Japanese restaurants require customers to pay for their meals at the front register, rather than leave money with the waiter or waitress.

“Wait staff are paid a standard wage, so they do not rely on tips as a significant portion of their earnings,” she said. “Furthermore, the notion of a tip is not a source of motivation. In fact, tipping would be considered rude. Doing the job well is simply part of the job.”

A gratuity (normally called a tip) is a sum of money customarily given by a client or customer to certain service sector workers for the service they have performed, in addition to the basic price of the service.

Tipping in Italy: not mandatory but certainly welcome Just a light reminder that sometimes it’s worth rewarding good services and experiences and that even a few extra euros goes a long way to the small salaries that waiters have in Italy.