| Sometimes tourists complain that the service at | | | | industry. Since the workers are guaranteed |
| restaurants in Prague is poor. They complain that | | | | payment every month regardless of performance |
| the waiters do not show enthusiasm, they do not | | | | they tend to under perform. The reasoning is, |
| come around often, they are rude, and they are | | | | why be polite, why be speedy, why care? The |
| slow to collect the bill. | | | | paycheck does not depend on extra effort. Why |
| Of course, there are many restaurants with good | | | | try to do a good job? |
| service but Prague does seems to have a | | | | The interesting thing is that communism actually |
| proportionally high level of poor service waiters | | | | gave incentive to the waiter to do a poor job. |
| compared to other Western countries. There are | | | | The waiter did not want you to enjoy yourself, |
| two main reasons for this: | | | | he did not want you to come back - more work |
| Low Tips | | | | for him. For a waiter in communism the best thing |
| The Czech Republic was a communist country | | | | he can hope for is that you do not like the |
| between 1945 and 1989. During communism | | | | restaurant and do not come back. A empty night |
| tipping was forbidden. The waiters did not expect | | | | is a great night - no work, same pay. |
| a tip and the customers did not give it. When | | | | And if you come to the restaurant the waiter |
| communism ended the practice of tipping was | | | | does not want you to leave. Because if you leave |
| slow to return. Even today, although tipping is | | | | a table will be free and he will have to serve a |
| expected at around 10%-15%, there are still a lot | | | | whole new group of people. So he will try to |
| of Czechs that do not tip. Or if they tip it is only | | | | avoid you and not collect the bill. You would be |
| a matter of rounding off the bill to the next round | | | | done your dinner and the waiter acts like he does |
| number. For example, for a bill of 291 CZK it is | | | | not see your table. To get the waiters attention |
| not uncommon for a customer to pay 300 CZK. | | | | you would need to wave your arms and call him. |
| Not a big tip. | | | | He would shout back that he is busy and that you |
| Because the waiter is not guaranteed to receive | | | | need to wait. This causes stress and anger on |
| a tip for good service the service suffers. It is | | | | both sides. Not a pleasant experience. Just what |
| also why the service tends to be worse at | | | | the waiter intends. Thanks you and please do not |
| restaurants for locals then it is for places | | | | come back again. |
| frequented by tourist. Tourists are use to paying | | | | Fortunately for both waiters and patrons |
| 15% tips, locals are not. | | | | communism is gone. Although there are still a few |
| Until tipping becomes a standard practice waiters | | | | remnants left from that dark time, most |
| will be a little hesitance to come running with a | | | | restaurants are now a pleasant experience. |
| smile. When you visit please try to do your part | | | | Because if nobody visits the restaurant then it will |
| and pay a fair tip. | | | | go under. The waiter does not want to loose his |
| The Curse of Communism on the Service | | | | job so he tries to make it a pleasant experience. |
| Industry | | | | Just do not forget to thank the waiter with a nice |
| Communism has a strange effect on the service | | | | tip. |