Banquet/Catering gratuity ?

[greenshirt77]

Jim or anyone else who can weigh in-
My company is now at a level where I want to put together something nice for our christmas parties. This year was the first year I went the route of booking a banquet facility. I am glad I did, as it went very well. The food was great, the facility and it's employees were fantastic, and we had exactly the atmosphere we were looking for.
Anyway, my confusion is this-
Within all of the information included in the contract, it specifically states that the $ per person is based on food, tax, AND gratuity. Although, at the end of the night, it was implied that additional gratuity is customary. The person that suggested this was the catering manager of the facility, and while she wasn't being too forward in her implication, the implication was there nonetheless.
The cost for this party was not cheap, but the owners of the facility are well established as one of the best catering companies in the area and have a wonderful facility. I certainly don't mind spending the $ if it's well worth it, but I question whether additional tipping was indeed apt.
The contract amounts list food costs, taxes, and a labor charge, but nothing that is specifically listed as gratuity. My wife worked in catering sales at hotels for some years and said that if the contract states that the costs include gratuity and there is a labor charge added, no additional gratuity should be necessary.
On a side note, but related, was it proper for the bartender to have tip jars on the bar if gratuity is included in the overall cost?
Thanks in advance for anyones .02!

[Justawoman]

A tip jar in a barber shop or on a bar are not offensive. I did catering before we had our 4th child. My partner and I clearly stated that cost of catering included food, tax, cleanup, and gratuity. Yes, we did our own dishes so included this cost. But back to tipping, I did not expect an additional tip. That seems a little bit presumptious to assume your service is good enough that you can insinuate upfront that the tip you are including on the contract is not enough but you deserve more and will be expecting it. I hope that came out right and made sense. I don't see where one is needed or should be expected. They should keep their mouths shut and abide by their prearranged contract. If the customer deems the catering company worthy enough then they can pay a little more than the contract states. I think this kind of tipping would say more about my food and service than if I demanded more from my customer than I stated in a contract.

Plus the best tip we ever got was recommendations from happy eaters.

[greenshirt77]

Thanks for the response.
Just to clarify- I don't find a tip jar anywhere to be offensive. I was more concerned with the idea that, if a certain percentage for gratuity is included in the predetermined cost, is seems unfair to one person (the bartender in this case) to have a place to accept additional tips when no one else does. I know bartenders work hard, but what about the 2 chefs and 3 servers that were working their butts off? Unless they strap one to their side, they have no place to put a tip jar. Just seems that, beyond the amount included in the bill, additional gratuity should be at the discretion of the customer based on their overall satisfaction with the service provided.
Here's an additional ? I didn't include in my original post. In a situation where additional gratuity is considered proper, how should one calculate a reasonable amt? The total amt after the open bar charges were factored in came to approx $3000. Just under $800 of that was allocated to a "Labor Charge". Would I tip 15-20% of the total, which would then be split up amongst the staff working the party? (6 total staff in our case)
I am not stingy at all and usually tip very generously at restaurants, etc., but this being the first party of this type I have hosted for my company, I want to make sure I do what's right.
Anyone else? Jim?

[jamesglewisf]

It was inappropriate to include gratuity and a labor charge and then ask for a tip at the end.

The tip jar was also inappropriate, whether or not tips were part of the contract. Your employees/guests should not feel obligated to provide a tip. That is the responsibility of the host. (I'm not picking on you, but the bartender.)

15% of the total is appropriate when it is not included in the contract. That would be $75 a server.

[Justawoman]

And as far as I know the gratuity should be split up between the people you named as working this event. If they didn't charge enough to begin with then it sounds like a pricing problem on their end.

Where my daughter works, a dining establishment, they include gratuity on large parties of 8 and over. She always gets her tip when they do this. The restaurant has never kept her tip.