At Campsite Brewing Company our team is

our chosen family

One of our goals as an organization is to provide our employees with fair and equitable income that allows them to provide for themselves and their families in a continuously challenging economic climate. Cost of rent, goods, and services are continuously on the rise and the average server and line cook have to work at least 2 jobs to manage these growing prices.
To support their employees, many restaurants raise the prices of food, implement service charges, or cut staff. After much deliberation, research, and thoughtfulness, Campsite Brewing Company chose to implement an 18% Service Charge on all transactions. It is important to us that we are transparent about this choice and our guests fully understand our reasoning and the implications, we hope this sheds some light on the topic.

The differences

Service Charge

• Definition: A set percentage added to an entire transaction that is property of the company.
• How it applies to us: At Campsite Brewing Company, 100% of income from the service charge goes to our employees including servers and our kitchen staff.

Gratuity

• Definition: Gratuity, or tip, is money paid for service in addition to the check.
• How it applies to us: While the service charge is automatically added to the bill, guests do have the opportunity to tip on top of that if they choose. When paying your bill you are asked if you would like to pay 0%, 2% (totaling 20%), or 4% (totaling 22%). This gratuity goes exclusively to our servers and is split in a tip pool model per shift.

Tip Pooling

• Definition: A valid tip pooling practice involves the collection of tips into one large “pool.” In theory, tip pooling ensures all staff members are fairly compensated for their work. However, by law, the organization can not mandate which employees are included in the tip pool, meaning that servers are not required to share with dishwashers and cooks.
• How it applies to us: The problem with depending exclusively on tip pooling is that it doesn’t allow us to ensure that our hard working kitchen team is included fairly.  

Hospitality included

• Definition:  In this model, tips are eliminated and menu prices are increased to facilitate increased wages.
• How it applies to us: This model didn’t work for us because we value transparency and we think it's important our guests know exactly what they’re paying for.

FAQs

• Q:  Why did Campsite Brewing Company choose a service charge model?
• A: The service charge model allows us to compensate our staff fairly based on sales and is, in essence, a commission. We felt that this was the most transparent means of charging guests because instead of increasing prices guests see that they are paying an additional fee that goes directly towards staff. This model also allowed us to ensure the funds from the charge are distributed fairly between our front and back of house
• Q: How are employees paid at Campsite?
• A: All employees receive an hourly wage, plus “commission” from the service charge. Gratuity paid on top of the service charge is added to a tip pool and split among the servers working that shift.
• Q: But they don’t serve me, I have to find my own table and wait for my beer, what am I paying for?
• A: Our staff are sincerely the best in the biz. We hold our employees to high standards, put them through extensive food and beer training, not to mention they work in a fast paced high volume brewpub and are constantly moving. It takes skill to pour beer properly, make your gourmet burger, ensure the ‘campground’ is clean and fresh, educate guests on the newest beers, bake the chocolate chip cookie perfectly every time, and do it all with a smiling face.
  
  We also want you to know that we are intentionally not providing table service. It is important to us that your experience at Campsite is guest led. Whether you’re here for a quick lunch or a relaxing Sunday afternoon and plan to stay for hours, you call the shots. You won’t have servers breathing down your neck anxiously waiting to fill your table with the next guest. You can sit wherever you like, for as long as you like.
• Q:  Shouldn’t you, the company, be responsible for paying your staff more? Why is it my problem?
• A: We totally agree. That’s why we pay higher than average wages, provide benefits, and paid time off. The service charge or commission, is on top of that. It's worth mentioning, even with all these measures many staff still have to work 2 jobs to pay for school, childcare, and rent.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we try our best to take care of our team and ensure the best guest experience possible. If you have any questions about the service charge or gratuity please ask to speak to an owner.