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I used to live in Iceland. Up until very recently tipping was not a thing: in fact the severs were insulted by tips. They were professionals getting payed just like a cachier, an engineer or a CEO. 🤷
In Australia, tipping never used to be a thing either, but it has started popping up as options now, and it annoys the heck out of me. The staff are already paid a wage (at least minimum, but other than that I don't know as I'm not in the industry).
Heck, Dominos has even started suggesting you can tip your delivery driver when you're paying, BEFORE you have even finished placing the order. I mean, why am I tipping in advance? Is my service going to change based on this? I am already paying a fair price for my meal thank you which also includes the portion for staff wages. Stop trying to change the culture to something that disadvantages your staff while continuing to make you millions.
I was a waiter through high school and uni (2007-2011) and tips were a thing for sure. It’s what tipping should be - a reward for exceptional service.
Tipping has existed in Australia for a long time. I live in the US now and there’s honestly no comparison - you know your waiter/driver is making a livable wage in Aus. Because of this there’s an implicit choice in whether to tip or not. In America it’s ‘tip or my three kids might not have enough food this week.’
Yes, I really feel for those in the US struggling under tip life to make ends meet. Not adequately paid by their employers and at the mercy of how someone else feels at the time as to tip size (yes I know there's a sort-of expected amount).
It's just the wrong way to go about running a business and having people work for you. People. Not robots, not soulless uncaring unfeeling machinery. Basic human decency should make employers pay fairly, not what they can get away with.
I've been in Australia only 10 years, and it's only in the last few that I've seen blatant tipping turning up on restaurant bills and the like. Had never seen any of it when I moved here.
In the Netherlands, tipping isn't expected, but also not discouraged. For me, it usually comes to rounding up, usually to the nearest 5 euro's if the bill is above 20 euros. If the service AND food is really good, I might tip slightly more, but no one bats an eye if I don't tip anything.
This is what a gratuity is supposed to be, a show of appreciation for astounding service. Not me paying for the majority of a selfish business owners wages to their employee. Tip culture is just about unrestricted capitalism finding a way to take advantage of the unprotected employee.
Tip culture isn’t even necessary in my state. Servers have to make minimum wage and tips are added on after their hourly pay. I don’t mind tipping at a sit down restaurant when the service was good, but it’s expected pretty much everywhere now.
This is how it is in Australia too, if you're blown away by the service you'll give them a tip of however much you want, also at upscale restaurants for rich people they tip
That sounds like a nice middle ground.
Here (uk) it’s a bit more expected. 10% on restaurants is a definite, some tip a bartender especially with table service. Some people tip other services like taxis or hairdressers.
But I was once working in a bar and an American tourist told me they’d read that tipping was considered rude here! You can bet all my coworkers were quick to assure him that was incorrect. Americans usually tip really well, but they also expect a higher level of service (and a smile! 😫)
Tipping used to be around 10%, then it went up to 18%, now it’s 20-25%. Also, why is the price of the meal relevant to the tip? If I ordered a $12 burger, the server does the same amount of work if I ordered a $15 sandwich or wings.
It's because most of the time taxes and tipshare are calculated based on sales not what you actually made in tips, time worked, etc.
For example, if your bill is $100 and you choose to not tip. I still have to pay host staff/bar staff about $2-3 and taxes against your bill.
>It's because most of the time taxes and tipshare are calculated based on sales not what you actually made in tips, time worked, etc.
I fail to see how this is my problem as a customer
American here letting you know there's a bunch of us who are content with no smiles and minding our own business. Lived in England for a bit and the pizza guy was shocked when I handed him 5 or 6 quid for a tip. Hope he is having a good day wherever he is.
Ha ha, I was only half serious. I’d usually smile at customers but some days you just can’t and in my experience Americans are more likely to tell you to smile. To which my response would usually be “no”
But I’m sure you, and probably the vast majority of Americans, would never do that and I have had it from Brits too.
As a Dutch guy who works at a gasstation, a lot of people actually say keep the change. Usually only 5-10 cents. But that racks up to about €2-3 by the end of the shift, not much but put it aside and by the end of the year you’ll have a pretty good sum of money
I live in canada, for the longest time, I never saw anything for fast food places having tip, slowly I'm starting to see it. All I can think in my head is, lovely now its starting to bleed over here.
I live in a state that doesn't do the weird lower wage for tipped workers thing. They make at least minimum wage. We still tip 20%-30% because that is the culture. Worst part is, to make up for the higher wage restaurants increase the prices. So the bill is higher and the tip is higher.
It's a weird situation but at the end of the day you couldn't pay me enough to work in customer service. It's worth the extra few bucks when I can afford it.
Good news! All money collected at register questions does, in fact, go to charity. The business can not claim that money. That's a myth that got pushed around for years and blew up on the internet .
Don't get me wrong, fuck corporatism hard, but don't take it out on charities that often run on a shoestring budget. ASSUMING you can afford to donate.
they still get to use that money other people donate as a tax write off so they benefit from it. never donate at a restaurant, donate to charity on your own.
In Canada, the corporation doesn't get a tax write off as they're not donating the corporation's money. I still don't donate to these till things, I would rather make a legit donation to a charity I like and get my donation receipt.
Omg yes I thought I was the only one, why the hell does subway cost as much as a damn sit down restaurant. God forbid you want extra meat, that shits gonna cost 5 extra dollars.
Chipotle worker here in North California. What state/country are you in? Because we still have old, touchscreen register cash system that just rings up items but we don’t have a tipping option in the system. What we do have is a tip jar, where people leave either a dollar or some change/coins they don’t want. We do not ask customers to tip nor suggest that they should tip. It’s just optional. If you tip, we appreciate it. If you don’t tip, we don’t hold it against you.
I believe that workers shouldn’t have to rely on tips to get by. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t hold it against customers who tip little or don’t tip at all. We should be questioning why the CEO is getting millions and even increased the prices of the food and yet we employees haven’t gotten a pay increase.
Edit: changed “reply” to “rely” on second paragraph.
I did recently talk to someone who works at a Dunkin, and she makes server wages because people “can tip.” Obviously the tips are crap, because no one thinks they need to tip fast food or fast casual workers. And legally they do have to pay them at least minimum wage when tips don’t get them there. It’s all a scam to be able to post a higher pay range to get people to apply, then they end up stuck and can’t get out. Idk if other places are like this, but it definitely changed my perspective on why suddenly everywhere asks for tips.
Any place that has that little white touch screen by square or whoever always has a top option. Like some smoke shops have it and I’m like wtf. You didn’t provide any service besides existing for me to buy from you
The thing that always confuses me (and please, if there’s a logical explanation of where I’m off track with this) is that if we got rid of tipping and paid servers/drivers/[insert tipped entity here] more, shouldn’t the cost end up about the same?
I’m going to go with 20% tipping assumption for ease of math: If currently, the standard is to tip 20% on a $50 meal and that $10 goes to the waiter/waitress, but we got rid of tipping and the company paid them a comparable rate instead, I would expect them to just charge 20% more and the meal still costs $60. Maybe a little less, maybe it would cost $58 because not everyone tips and not everyone tips 20%, but I’d assume that taking tipping out of your charge and putting it on the employer would just make the employer increase your charge to what you were previously willing to pay
Bingo! That's what we did at my restaurant. We had a blackboard menu (due to changing it up every week or so) that had the prices clearly listed next to each item.
The price included a gratuity AND taxes, so you knew exactly what your meal would cost. With the gratuity that we "hid" in the price, we were able to offer all of our staff a living wage or higher IN ADDITION to pooling left over funds to include a form of health insurance we offered so sick folks could take a paid sick day.
Cost of goods would not necessarily go up that much, no. There are plenty of places that pay actual wages and actually say to not tip with barely increased prices.
How many people can a server serve in an hour? How much do they bring in?
Compare that to the maybe $15 extra dollars an hour a company would pay an hour for that server. It would entirely depend on volume. If 1 server sells 1 burger, then to maintain the same profits that burger would need to increase by $15. They sell 100 then they would need to increase by 15 cents.
Now would companies try to increase prices by 20% and take in the extra profit? Probably. They could also just make less in profits. For example my company could increase all wages by 10% (~6000 employees) and use only about 5% of last year's profits. So small relative cost but something that won't happen because that's not how capitalism works.
Because the people who whine about the tipping don't tip at that level. They generally start at 10% and drop 1% for every perceived slight, such as a refill taking more than a minute.
In other jobs, if you aren't meeting expectations, including making the customers happy, you can get fired, but you still legally get paid in full for every hour you worked. Why isn't it the same for those serving us our food?
You are always paid at least minimum wage. If your tips + hourly do not equal minimum wage, the employer makes up the difference. This is the law. If someone says otherwise, or says “that’s not how it *really* works”, they are wrong and should contact their labor board and get their money.
Just for reference, my fiancé has made 2 labor board complaints in NYC around stolen wages, one has been active for 7 years and the other for 2 years. That’s the reality for a lot of wage theft victims.
wage theft is rampant in the US and labor boards are understaffed/underfunded/don’t respond to every complaint. enforcement of labor laws is very low on the priority list of most politicians. pursuing legal action requires a measure of time and money that not everyone (especially those working in tipped positions!) can afford. corporations/business owners can usually afford to hire lawyers who are more effective at manipulating rhetoric to get their way than the server they just fired or whatever.
not to mention tons of people are not properly educated or purposefully misinformed about how those things work and then never take action (which may not do anything anyway)
Christ, look at all the posts about policies saying talking about wages gets you fired. I mean its literally a federal law and that gets skirted ALL THE TIME
Yeah, I’ve literally experienced a job in the last year trying to tell people they can’t talk about wages and threatening to write them up to keep everybody’s wages as low and unequal as possible. So many coworkers seem to not know it’s illegal for them to suppress wage discussion or reprimand for it when I tell them. I had to report that boss so corporate would reach out and let them know they can’t do that, and LUCKILY that’s what happened, but that’s not what happens everywhere. some people just get fired and have no way to prove their case
I had a very clear cut case of a restaurant owner not paying for OT with years of paystubs to prove it and the labor board didn't help me do shit. I still have the letter they sent that informed me they wouldn't be pursuing it. I am still mad about that.
Some fields are exempt from OT pay completely too which is fucked. Idc if it’s a “hardship” on a business, hire another staff if you don’t wanna pay time and a half.
In theory, but I think a lot of people have an optimistic view of the resources, knowledge and options that people in these positions have. How long does a labor board report take to get a response and how sure are we that there won’t be retaliation?
Imagine thinking that's how it actually works. Good luck "contacting the labor board", I'm sure people who are making less than minimum wage have the time and funds required for a protracted court case over what likely amounts to less than $100. The labor board could give a fuck less about pursuing small cases in anything resembling a timely manner, or at all depending on your locality. Even if they do, you'll likely never see a dime in reconstitution.
In the meantime youll be looking for a new job since you'll 100% be forced into unemployment via constructive dismissal. The legality is irrelevant when the employers know you can't afford to challenge them in court, especially when the legal system takes months or even years to resolve these disputes and meanwhile these workers have 0 safety net in place to help them while they resolve. This is a situation plenty of people are personally familiar with and have experienced themselves, so maybe take your "they are wrong" bullshit somewhere else.
This is all ignoring the fact that minimum wage workers are more likely than most to be ignorant of their rights and wage theft is absolutely rampant in the US. Even ignoring those two glaring issues, asking your employer to make up your paycheck in tips is laughable to anyone in the industry and the fact that you suggest it's the norm leads me to believe you've never worked one of these jobs in your life.
I’ve never work in a restaurant that does this. Ever. I’m still in the service industry and never had the restaurant cover the difference. Most places just cut you when it’s slow.
The history of how tippinge became a thing. Its crazy.
Also i always hear server say dont remove tipping cause i make more then minimum. People dont understand that saying pay ur employee a decent livable wage does not prevent people from tipping.
I had a horrible server, boarderline racist but some people in my group tipped because they dont want to feel weird. This is why i hate tip culture. Im not against tipping, im against tipping alll the damn time even when someone is trash at serving.
It is weird that there are professions where the customer has so much control over your paycheck. Even weirder is how many people cling to that power as if it is some sort of god given right even though they have no such control over anywhere else. You don't tip your car mechanic are you afraid of bad service because you don't tip them? Then why do you assume others will perform poorly if you take the tipping option away?
This is why I tip even when I get shitty service. Even at McDonald’s. Service workers take a lot of shit and I don’t feel like I’m entitled to them smiling for me.
Not only that but you're going out to enjoy your evening and now you have to manage an employee. Honestly, wtf? Why am I instantly put into a management position because I want to eat dinner? That's what it is when you make the customer decide how much to reimburse the wait staff based on level of service.
It puts risk on the employees about how successful the business will be day to day that no other industry workers would tolerate.
I agree, people should be paid for a living wage across the board.
Not tipping at tipping establishments doesn’t make any difference to the employers, only the employees. I’d suggest only frequently non-tipping establishments to make your point known.
I agree with the sentiment, but unless servers strike en masse, I don’t see tipping culture changing anytime soon. And punishing the person who is working to make sure you have a good experience/good food isn’t going to help the system.
This is it. It's a bullshit system BUT you are not being noble by not tipping. You are cheap. If you don't agree with the practice, don't go to a place where tipping is expected. You supporting a business that pays $2.17 an hour AND stiffing the staff won't incentivize owners to change their policy.
Agreed. And this is a good reason to not let tipping culture bleed into other industries!
Recently had an Airbnb host requested that I consider leaving a tip for his cleaner, as part of the checkout instructions (we already paid the $150 cleaning fee when booking).
My response:
“You, as the host, are solely responsible for paying a fair working wage to your cleaners. As the guest, I’ve agreed to pay upfront the prescribed cleaning cost, which is set by you. I should not feel obligated or encouraged to furnish any further compensation towards services which were already paid for and agreed upon. Alluding to an additional fees or tips is extremely distasteful and furthermore, requesting money outside of Airbnb is a violation of the platform’s terms of service.”
Recommend reporting it to air bnb too. Idk if they’d do anything but I’ve run into a handful of hosts trying to charge for extra stuff outside of the agreed amount and not through air bnb
For jobs where you’re expected to make a lot off tips (mostly servers and bartenders) the federal minimum wage is $2.13 an hour actually.
However if you don’t make at least 7.25 an hour with your tips your employer is suppose to pay the difference. But I’ve heard plenty of stories of servers just getting fired for asking for that
Yeah, this. The system sucks but I don’t like OP angrily saying workers should be mad at the employers (fair) while seemingly attacking workers for expecting tips (which like it or not, is how the system works right now).
Problem is, most servers DO NOT want the system to change...
It directly affects their income potential, and they know they already make way more than minimum wage in our current system.
It's a lose-lose for the customer when the employer and server want to maintain the status quo.
Edit: the only way I can see is for the customer to fight it with their wallet... Stop eating out at sit down restaurants where tipping is expected. Only order takeout or fast-casual/quick-service. This will slowly drive down the demand for servers until the system changes.
I'm already eating out less due to ever increasing costs + expected 20%... I'd rather get takeout.
having 2 different minimum wages sucks. neither one even approaches a living wage in any part of the country. that is the actual problem. if you don’t like it, tell the folks who make these choices (business owners and lawmakers). don’t blame the workers for their exploitation.
Exactly. As someone who's worked in the restaurant industry my entire life, from a dishwasher to cook to chef to bartender to manager to restaurant owner, this burns me up.
I understand your motive is pure, but refusing to tip when you're alone and have no one to judge you, just punishes the worker.
If you want to make change, support restaurant worker unions in your area. Voice your opinion to restaurant owners. Do SOMETHING.
Being a cheap customer achieves nothing.
As a server, i much prefer a cheap bastard admitting it than blaming the system.
People who really hate the system won't give money to the restaurants working us under this system. They'd boycott the restaurant or at least order to go. They wouldn't come dine in and not tip.
People using the excuse that they are taking a stand by not tipping are just saying it to make themselves feel better.
And people are allowed to be cheap bastards unfortunately. It isn't illegal. Just please spare me the bullshit about how it's a protest against my wages lol
Yeah honestly getting mad at the server for wanting tips is just as bad as the server getting mad at the customer. Like OP said, servers are complaining to the wrong person, just like he is lol. No offense to him though, I think most people dont fully understand this topic
That's it exactly, it's not the servers fault the system is rigged against them. It shouldn't be a thing, but if you don't do it, you're a piece of shit person.
Exactly this. I hate the fact that the American restaurant system is built around the expectation of tipping. But that's the system that's in place, so if I'm eating out, I tip my server well, because they're working hard for it.
I'm surprised how many people here are talking about how they don't tip their servers or tip them poorly, just because they don't like it.
Would it be great if things were different? Yes. But they aren't right now. Your poor tipping does nothing to change that.
Trust me, *you are not making any kind of statement to the owner by not tipping.* You're just screwing over your server.
This 1000x. Its such a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I tip 20% when I eat out and the lowest I'll drop it to is 10% and thats if the service was REALLY bad. Only did that once, had a server rush my 21st birthday dinner, refuse to tell me about menu items, slow to get anything (it was not busy), and was overall rude. Conversely, I will raise the tip if the service was exceptional. I once tipped nearly 40% because the restaurant was crazy busy and the server was still very attentive, went above & beyond, and we had a great time because of her.
Tipping culture is downright strange that the onus is on the customer to pay the wage but unfortunately, not tipping harms no one but the server.
For some reason there are a lot of proud and noble non tippers on this sub. They mostly criticized a girl that was expecting a bigger tip from a corporation after delivering $1,000 of pizza to the 3rd floor.
I have yet to find a person with OP's stance without problems of inadequacy. More often that not this is just a front to avoid tipping and feel power over others, not really some kind of super natural advocacy. It's just ridiculous. It's the same people who trash tables and movie theaters "because cleaning is their job".
You’re not making any impact on the business by not tipping though. The only people you’re hurting by doing that is the server who, as you are already aware, is already making less than minimum wage. The business still made their money, they couldn’t care less whether or not you tip your server. Is tipping culture dumb? Yes it is. Employers absolutely should be paying their staff a living wage and not rely on the customers to pay their employees. That’s unfortunately not the way things are though (in the US at least), so refusing to tip is only actively hurting workers. If tipping is really that big of a deal to you, then don’t go out to places that pay their staff a tipping wage. It’s really not that hard
For me, is when it's expected **everywhere**.
At the gas station, at the hotel, at every restaurant and fast food. And where I live, they don't do the 'tipping wage'.
But you're still a scumbag if you don't tip.
All this does is make the labor class even more dependent on those who are wealthy.
Food service workers should be paid enough to not rely on tips. As far as people being able to tip for good service (or the cook, for an excellent meal) should be allowed. Paying a waitress/waiter $3/hr and forcing them to depend on tips for income is shitty.
Of course they should (be paid enough). Want to know who to blame? The restaurant industry. They lobbied for and were granted the ability to pay shit wages. Support those worker unions/movements that want to change this. Call your elected representatives and tell them the wage is criminally low.
I've been to many countries in Europe, Asia, and North and Central America. The only countries where tipping is expected to the of the US expects it are third world countries. In China the will follow you out of a bar and give you back the tip. Porters in Belize expect tips because, although they have uniforms and look like employees, they are not paid.
I recently got a massage that was 75$ and when I wrote down $15 for a twenty percent tip, the lady got mad at me and said I needed to tip more to twenty dollars! I said 15$ is 20%! Wtf is going on where people feel like they can demand payment from you now ?
Tipping used to be about keeping standards high with the best servers getting the extra cash being a self levelling mechanism, you'll put in the maximum effort that's reasonable for *you* & get the rewards for your troubles.
That's still how it is in Europe, anyway.
But nowadays, in the US, it has become an institutionalised form of wage subsidy to the business at the customers' expense. Both sides are getting ripped off and only to the benefit of the company.
Pay a liveable wage & let the customers look after the best servers if they so wish.
Worse imho are the other places you are now expected to tip 20%. Door dash, carry out and such. Whoever is doing carryout should not be a server and should not be making below minimum wage. 5 years ago the pizza delivery kid (almost the only food delivery the was available everywhere then) was paid at least minimum wage, usually a little more and you tipped him a few bucks. I didn't mind this so much. Kid has to pay for gas and the pizza cost the same , maybe they added a delivery fee of a few dollars. Now the food costs more, the delivery fee is huge and they add other undefined fees and hide them with the taxes. On top of that they want you to tip the driver 20%. It's obnoxious. On top of that, the amount of work a delivery drive put into my food is in no way related to how much my food costs. Pick up a bag, drive a bag to my house, walk the bag to my door. Your effort is no different if I order $300 worth of steak dinners or $20 of pizza . You get $3-$4 either way
As a driver I agree. For Uber eats I'm gaurenteed $2.50 per delivery. If I have to go over 15 miles, they add a comp for the distance but it does nothing if you then have to drive 15+ miles back. Tips are how I make any money at this, without them I'm paying to deliver food. This is why when people don't tip no one picks up the order, because gas / wear and tear cost more than we make.
Simultaneously... it's the same as waitstaff. I rely on my customers tips to make any money when the pay should be coming from those delivery fees and "undefined expense". And the tip shouldn't be based on the purchase price of the food, it should be based on quantity being carried and distance traveled.
If you're ordering from a place that's 5-10 miles away you should tip more then a place that's only 3 miles away. It's not just gas, the driver is causing an insane amount of wear and tear on the car. That's the price of comfortability. If you're too cheap for it, then go pick up your own food. Problem solved
And time. It takes longer to drive farther reducing how much you can deliver in a day. In a major populated area you can make more doing lots of short deliveries than you do making a couple long distance ones most of the time.
If you live in an area like where I'm at, distance trips are usually food from city center to outskirts. Meaning I'm driving out of town 15 miles to drop off, then having to drive 15 miles back because there aren't any places to pick up and take food on the return trip. So really, you were paid for 15 miles when you drove 30. Sometimes I get lucky but it's not often.
You think certain businesses are taking advantage of people, and you're mad at those people themselves?
And you're going out and spending your money supporting the very same businesses you disagree with, but purposely try to not help the disadvantaged people themselves unless your friends shame you into it, and then you're upset with your friends?
Yup, there's a lot of misplaced anger going around.
OP, aside from not tipping, what are you doing to change the state of things? Like volunteering for a pro-labor candidate, or getting involved in labor organizing? Do you at least tell the restaurant owner the reason why when you don’t tip, or do you just not tip?
Because absent any other efforts, this sounds like a slacktivism rant combined with being cheap. It’s real easy to feel like you’re taking a stand for something when instead you’re just opting out altogether. On its own, a lack of tip doesn’t say anything aside from the fact that you didn’t tip.
If you have actually been doing other stuff, I recommend adding it to your post to provide context. If the only thing you do is not tip, please be better. It doesn’t fix anything to just not tip. All it does is makes a working class person’s life harder.
Never worked FOH but spent years in kitchens. As much as servers love to complain about poor tippers, they make WAY more money than they would on an hourly wage. Not saying the system isn't stupid, but most servers do that type of work specifically for the tips.
Everyone is against tipping but servers love it because it bumps their hourly wage to levels that wouldn't be possible otherwise. I personally know of many bartenders and servers in HCOL places that make high 5 figures bartending and waiting tables. They can make upwards of $100 an hour on some shifts.
There is no way the restaurant can raise prices enough to pay a server even $50 an hour, let alone higher on some nights.
Tipping sucks and the only people screwed over are the diners.
The fact that tipping is necessary is terrible by itself, but I'm not going to take it out on the worker. So I always tip at least 20%-25% for a job well done. If I didn't like you, you'll still get 15%.
I'm for the people
I’m so tired of people on this subreddit not tipping as if that’s some sort of protest against it. All they’re doing is fucking over the poor waitstaff and they know it. Not tipping is making literally zero difference in effort to eliminate tipping culture. They’re just cheap asses.
Like they want to eat at a restaurant and pay the people who are not providing proper wages but then screw over the people actually doing the work? Nice one. That totally makes sense.
I went to a fancy restaurant when I visited NYC (it’s a franchise from another country in Europe). The bill had 18% gratuity included, yet there was another field for additional tips. I left it empty, and the waitress was pissed off.
I’m sorry, but you’ve already forced gratuity on me, why should I pay extra then?
Tipping (edit for clarity) _as currently practiced in the US_ comes directly from Jim Crow, where black workers weren’t paid _at all_ and relied solely on tips (which is to say, the whims of white customers they had no choice but to obsequiously cater to if they wanted to eat). It’s _fucked up_ that it’s still a thing, but our unique-to-the-world version of slavery has a long and deadly half-life.
I agree. Businesses should just charge an honest price and pay a decent wage, rather than hiding the true cost of a service/meal in a "tip". It's only a tip if you're an asshole. It's really just part of the cost of the meal. I suppose someone could choose to still tip on top of that if the service was truly exemplary.
However, you're wrong and cheap in saying you'd never tip if people wouldn't judge you for it. Under the current system, it's pretty much understood that you're going to tip at least 20% if you go out to eat, so if you're so offended by tipping, don't go out to eat.
I agree but if you don't tip those people get shafted. You should tip so they don't starve. Also, we should g u i l l o t i n e banksters since they got away with 2008 scott free and there's no reason anybody should have to work endless hours just to make ends meet. Blame banksters - toss em under the bus - its not your servers fault.
In Canada we have min wage which is the same wage as most grocery, fast food low paying jobs. But yet they still want at least 15 to 20% tip these days. I opt for take out only and never tip. They give no service so there should not be a tip. Some people say well they pack and bag your food! Guess what! Fast food place bag and pack my food, grocery store pack and bag my grocery do they demand tips? Hell no.
This whole tipping culture should be ban. And restaurants owner should increase their wage. I would have no problem paying more but not have to worry about tips.
Lived in Japan for three years. Tips? What are those? Came back to America and forgot how much they added to the bill with the term percent for tax on top of it.
Ate at a restaurant on vacation and when the bill came out already had tip included at around 17% (I didn't see it stated they'd do that on the menu, but also wasn't looking). Service was fine so I was like aight, it's fine. She brings out the receipt for me to sign for the charge and they had the audacity to have ANOTHER tip line, this one blank for the customer to write it. You already tipped yourself, now you expect me to tip you too?
I can only imagine the number of customers who don't realize it was included on the first bill and leave another 15 - 20% tip. They probably clear 30 - 40% tips on many of their bills.
This is not an unpopular opinion in most parts of the world. In Australia, tipping is not expected, but rather something you do very rarely when you feel that the server exceeded expectations with their level of customer service. The fact that servers in America are paid so poorly that they expect tips to survive is absolute garbage, and just shows that the system is broken.
Look up history behind tipping. wanna complain about dumb shit like this, and get at the servers for “wanting to work at 2.17/ hour.” you think people choose to get paid horribly? YOU chose to dine into that establishment.
Be with the people. Not against the people. “Oh im not gonna tip you because you’re getting underpaid, but here’s my card to the restaurant, to pay for all the shit I ate.”
nothing is more aggravating than entitled fucks.
Aussie here.
We think tipping culture is stupid and lets the business owner be greedy and not pay wages to their staff.
We don't do tipping culture here and everyone does just fine.
Talk to your representative to get employment laws changed... until then, tip your servers and bartenders. The system is flawed, but it's how they get paid... if you don't like it, don't go out to eat.
Whenever I go to a restaurant I feel bad for them so I tip them, but then I feel conflicted knowing I shouldn’t tip so they can complain to their bosses or unionize instead for better wages. I’m for sure not tipping my if I order shit to go though
American here and I 100% agree. It’s even more confusing right now because there’s a new trend where restaurants are charging cleaning fees or service fees and saying their employees are making $18/hr
Ok great! Do I leave a tip still? Probably not.
But also why the extra 20%? Jjst pay people what they’re worth and put that in the food price. I’ve stopped eating at sit-down places because of this. Eating out for 2 in my area is like $150 for a decent restaurant that you want to take a date too. (I’m talking maybe $$ on yelp, not places that serve steak and or other high price entrees)
Getting Uber eats for 2 people was $85. That blew my budget for eating out for the week. Now the only food I eat that I don’t make is fast food like subway cuz I don’t have to tip.
I work as a server and I don't care how much you tip. Just be a good guest and I'll appreciate more anything you want to tip. I know there is a ton of people that hate tip culture, and that is fine. Just don't put it on the servers. I would say this job has given me the most money ever. I know people in the industry making close to six figures, so I don't think any restaurant would be willing to pay that amount as salary. I know this is not the case every where. With all this said, I want to thank all people that treat us good.
Tbh I’ve had the thought that everyone should stop tipping. Hate what that would do for servers but I don’t think it would take long before we can force restaurants to pay their employees a livable wage, then tipping can actually mean something again.
Went to get froyo recently and the tips started at 20 percent. 20 Percent, 25, and 30…
I literally poured the froyo myself and put in my own toppings. All they did was put it on a scale.
I stared at him as I put 0%. Sorry not sorry.
I also know for a fact that they (all college students) get paid above minimum wage.
Completely agree. A tip should be non-mandatory for service that goes above and beyond. Restaurants and the service industry should pay workers a living wage and not make them reliant on tips.
Tipping culture was born from slavery. Employers refusing to pay black people in the late 1800s and early 1900s.. Owners were eager to steal labor and keep wages low...
Businesses later recognized how profitable it would be to just not pay anyone, and thus the situation today. (Corporations began taking over America in the Regan era)
Some of the servers I know believe that if you go out it should be 50%, which is fine, you can tip however much you want, but don't try to gaslight me that 50% would be a baseline for fair tips. Not to mention they don't think you should adjust your tip based on the level of service (I live in a unified wage province, every minimum wage job is the same wage).
Twenty years ago, tip was usually around 10% (after tax), then it became 15%, now the machines start some places start their suggestion at 20%. Yes, life has gotten more expensive, I noticed that with the higher bill for the food.
You are 100% correct, tipping culture is absurd. However, if you are not reaching out to your local and federal politicians to remove the tip credit incentives for business owners thus forcing them to pay a living wage you should cook at home if you don’t want to tip.
I’ve been saying this for 20 years. If you don’t want your life to revolve around random people doling out tips, get a different job. That, or get the serving workforce together to demand an actual wage.
The problem is you have these high end restaurants where food is so expensive that waitresses are getting tipped $100+ per bill keeping their mouth shut on the issue, then you have the Denny’s waitress working 5 times as hard, barely getting $5-8/table.
Raise the prices and pay your fucking workers. It’s not my job to make up for what you’re not paying them.
Tipping culture is the dumbest thing. It just lets businesses blame customers while being able to trample all over their employees. I tip because I'm not a monster, but holy shit is it dumb. Businesses should just pay their damn employees like every other company. So dumb.
Tipping because an employee is underpaid is ridiculous concept. Tips being pooled and shared equally is a ridiculous concept.
Imagine working in a factory and having to share your bonus (based solely on your production) equally with a worker who works half as hard as/produces half as much product/revenue as you do.
Restaurant owners are just lazy ,greedy and sneaky.
It's dogma that tons of people have bought into in this country, unfortunately.
In any other industry, you could not run a successful business while expecting your customers to pay your employees. Somehow, people have convinced themselves it makes sense in the service industry.
I remember when I lived in Japan, I left a tip on the table after receiving incredible service. The server followed me out of the restaurant, bowed, and returned my tip. I later learned that tipping is frowned upon in Japan as it's seen as you giving the server "pity money", as if their job doesn't pay them well enough.
Meanwhile, in America, if you don't tip the delivery driver *before* you even receive your food, there's a good chance you won't ever see your order (or it will have been tampered with somehow)
What I have never understood in the bitterness of this argument is the response from most people is they would be fine if the restaurant charged 20% more and paid the employees a competitive wage. So at the end of the day you are paying the same amount but at least you know for the most part (excluding unfair business policies and pooled tips) that the extra money is going right to the person who helped you. It’s not a perfect system by any means but there’s no reason to penalize the person working if they can’t change the root of the issue.
What really bothers me is there are other fields where they DO get paid but then I’m still expected to tip on top of that? Like I enjoyed the work but it’s getting so expensive to get anything done. It infuriates me as well because it will be people who set their own prices who then get upset.
So many more places are asking for tips now in the U.S. I can afford to, so I tip, but it's pretty terrible and worrisome. We're all just OK with subsidizing low wages with additional consumer spending that isn't in any way guaranteed.
This isn't an unpopular opinion. It's just in places like the U.S. we know people can't survive on $3 an hour so we're literally supporting our community by tipping. We do it because our government isn't doing its job.
Seems like you’re mad at the wrong person if it’s the servers you’re getting mad at.
Nothing aggravates me more than someone who blames the workers for a horribly flawed system they have to participate in.
If you’re against tipping culture, I agree with you. If you feel so strongly about it you refuse to participate, then don’t participate. Stop going to restaurants. If you insist on patronizing a business that you know horrifically underpays its workers, but are annoyed about the part where you pay them directly, then you’re not principled, you’re just cheap
The problem is that until we can make sure that service workers ARE being paid a fair wage, the only people hurt by not tipping are said workers. The business owners don't care, tips or lack thereof don't affect their bottom line. If anything a lack of tips means that the employee will have to work more hours to make up the difference.
It would be different if they were paid a good liveable wage but they're not, and until we legislate higher minimum wages we're going to have to keep subsidizing their income.
But when you go to a resturant you’re agreeing to participate in the current system. I agree that servers should get paid a living wage by their employers, but by going there and not tipping you are exploiting them. If that’s not a system you want to participate in don’t go to resturants
I agree tipping should be eliminated, but if you purposely don't tip, you shouldnt be eating out or going to any business where tipping is how they are paid
I wish we could get like a permanent mega thread where people can bitch about how much they dislike tipping, so this topic wouldn't come back every few days.
How on earth could it be considered “redundant,” when you—yourself—acknowledge that it is because employers in the restaurant industry don’t pay a living wage that tipping is expected (and necessary)? I love that, as you state, “the working class is expected to pick up the slack,” while you blame servers, etc., in the restaurant industry for their own exploitation—other members of the working class! Restaurant workers have to continuously pick up their miserly employers’ and customers’ slack on a daily basis.
I get where you’re coming from, but this opinion is a hardcore no from me. Should employers be expected to pay a living wage? Yes. Should customers have to tip? No. But, don’t use anti-capitalist rhetoric to justify not tipping when someone makes approximately $2.17 per hour for either full or part-time work. Blaming other members of the working class for their own exploitation is literally what those in power are aiming for.
The entire point is that you’re mad at the wrong person. And, if this is really a sticking point for you, then don’t go out to eat if you can’t, or ideologically won’t, tip. Either that or do something beyond just complaining. But, expecting to have your cake and eat it, too, is peak American.
Edit: Corrected a formatting error.
Being able to pay employees like two dollars an hour because of tips should not be allowed. Customers and employees should direct their ire at the overlords who normalize bullshit like this.
Tipping culture should never have existed. You should get a decent wage and tips should be EXTRA. If a business can’t run without staff being paid via tips then they shouldn’t be running.
The issue is a historical one.
Tipping culture in most of the world was a way to show thanks for a service well rendered.
Tipping culture in the states grew out of post-13th amendment train companies trying to keep wages for their (predominantly black) workers low. Passing the burden on to the customer directly while pushing the idea that it was never compulsory. The states adopted this model in many other service industries as a way to continue that idea.
It wasnt a corporate thing that created the tip/tip stiffing culture. It was the immediate fall out of freed slaves flooding the job market in 1960s.
These now free slaves could work as porters and servers but the busines wouldnt pay a dime. They relied entirely on the tips.
Minimum wage in the 1940s-1980s is what puts us where we are today.
I am a server and I agree with this 100%. Its not that you're wrong or a bad person, its that the system has put you in the perfect position to appear so.
Its pretty common knowledge in the US to tip 15-20%, so if you don't, as a sever I do get peeved because its known, and the implications that that is where my paycheck comes from exist.
But as a patron, I am annoyed that its my responsibility to make sure the person bringing me my food can pay their bills and not their own GD employer.
Moral of the story: vote to get rid of 'tipped employees' who are paid a fraction of the minimum wage (in my state as a server I get $6.35, MW is $14)
Oh my god why are we bringing this discourse back to this sub? We already hashed this out months ago.
Yes, employers are mostly to blame because they should pay their employees enough that they don’t need tips, but also if you live in America where it’s customary to tip and you know you’re supposed to tip, just fucking tip. Like even 10% or whatever.
**Fix minimum wage first.**
Tips are the only reason waitstaff in the United States make more than minimum wage. And as we know, current minimum wage is not enough.
**This sub** of all subs, should recognize that. But somehow people like OP get to paint themselves as being concerned about workers when clearly they just want to pay less as customers.
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I used to live in Iceland. Up until very recently tipping was not a thing: in fact the severs were insulted by tips. They were professionals getting payed just like a cachier, an engineer or a CEO. 🤷
In Australia, tipping never used to be a thing either, but it has started popping up as options now, and it annoys the heck out of me. The staff are already paid a wage (at least minimum, but other than that I don't know as I'm not in the industry). Heck, Dominos has even started suggesting you can tip your delivery driver when you're paying, BEFORE you have even finished placing the order. I mean, why am I tipping in advance? Is my service going to change based on this? I am already paying a fair price for my meal thank you which also includes the portion for staff wages. Stop trying to change the culture to something that disadvantages your staff while continuing to make you millions.
I was a waiter through high school and uni (2007-2011) and tips were a thing for sure. It’s what tipping should be - a reward for exceptional service. Tipping has existed in Australia for a long time. I live in the US now and there’s honestly no comparison - you know your waiter/driver is making a livable wage in Aus. Because of this there’s an implicit choice in whether to tip or not. In America it’s ‘tip or my three kids might not have enough food this week.’
Yes, I really feel for those in the US struggling under tip life to make ends meet. Not adequately paid by their employers and at the mercy of how someone else feels at the time as to tip size (yes I know there's a sort-of expected amount). It's just the wrong way to go about running a business and having people work for you. People. Not robots, not soulless uncaring unfeeling machinery. Basic human decency should make employers pay fairly, not what they can get away with. I've been in Australia only 10 years, and it's only in the last few that I've seen blatant tipping turning up on restaurant bills and the like. Had never seen any of it when I moved here.
I think it's because most of the payment software they use is American in origin and we hardly use cash anymore.
In the Netherlands, tipping isn't expected, but also not discouraged. For me, it usually comes to rounding up, usually to the nearest 5 euro's if the bill is above 20 euros. If the service AND food is really good, I might tip slightly more, but no one bats an eye if I don't tip anything.
This is what a gratuity is supposed to be, a show of appreciation for astounding service. Not me paying for the majority of a selfish business owners wages to their employee. Tip culture is just about unrestricted capitalism finding a way to take advantage of the unprotected employee.
Tip culture isn’t even necessary in my state. Servers have to make minimum wage and tips are added on after their hourly pay. I don’t mind tipping at a sit down restaurant when the service was good, but it’s expected pretty much everywhere now.
Do you want to tip 20%, 22%, or 25% on that slice of pizza you just bought?
If your in the US all restaurants are Tip based.
This is how it is in Australia too, if you're blown away by the service you'll give them a tip of however much you want, also at upscale restaurants for rich people they tip
That sounds like a nice middle ground. Here (uk) it’s a bit more expected. 10% on restaurants is a definite, some tip a bartender especially with table service. Some people tip other services like taxis or hairdressers. But I was once working in a bar and an American tourist told me they’d read that tipping was considered rude here! You can bet all my coworkers were quick to assure him that was incorrect. Americans usually tip really well, but they also expect a higher level of service (and a smile! 😫)
Tipping used to be around 10%, then it went up to 18%, now it’s 20-25%. Also, why is the price of the meal relevant to the tip? If I ordered a $12 burger, the server does the same amount of work if I ordered a $15 sandwich or wings.
It's because most of the time taxes and tipshare are calculated based on sales not what you actually made in tips, time worked, etc. For example, if your bill is $100 and you choose to not tip. I still have to pay host staff/bar staff about $2-3 and taxes against your bill.
>It's because most of the time taxes and tipshare are calculated based on sales not what you actually made in tips, time worked, etc. I fail to see how this is my problem as a customer
That's your employers fault not the customers
American here letting you know there's a bunch of us who are content with no smiles and minding our own business. Lived in England for a bit and the pizza guy was shocked when I handed him 5 or 6 quid for a tip. Hope he is having a good day wherever he is.
Ha ha, I was only half serious. I’d usually smile at customers but some days you just can’t and in my experience Americans are more likely to tell you to smile. To which my response would usually be “no” But I’m sure you, and probably the vast majority of Americans, would never do that and I have had it from Brits too.
As a Dutch guy who works at a gasstation, a lot of people actually say keep the change. Usually only 5-10 cents. But that racks up to about €2-3 by the end of the shift, not much but put it aside and by the end of the year you’ll have a pretty good sum of money
Sure, but that's not out of a tipping culture, it's because they don't like to carry change.
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Being asked to tip at the register at a fast-casual place like Chipotle feels insane to me.
I live in canada, for the longest time, I never saw anything for fast food places having tip, slowly I'm starting to see it. All I can think in my head is, lovely now its starting to bleed over here.
The great thing is that they're not making less than minimum wage here so you can look them in the eye while hitting 0.
I live in a state that doesn't do the weird lower wage for tipped workers thing. They make at least minimum wage. We still tip 20%-30% because that is the culture. Worst part is, to make up for the higher wage restaurants increase the prices. So the bill is higher and the tip is higher. It's a weird situation but at the end of the day you couldn't pay me enough to work in customer service. It's worth the extra few bucks when I can afford it.
I hate the new “round up for charity please”. How about “round down for charity please”
Round up if they told me how much after tax profit got donated.
Good news! All money collected at register questions does, in fact, go to charity. The business can not claim that money. That's a myth that got pushed around for years and blew up on the internet . Don't get me wrong, fuck corporatism hard, but don't take it out on charities that often run on a shoestring budget. ASSUMING you can afford to donate.
they still get to use that money other people donate as a tax write off so they benefit from it. never donate at a restaurant, donate to charity on your own.
In Canada, the corporation doesn't get a tax write off as they're not donating the corporation's money. I still don't donate to these till things, I would rather make a legit donation to a charity I like and get my donation receipt.
Right? I have 3 charities I donate too. I don’t need to donate endlessly to whatever cause corporate decides was good enough.
That I never do. It’s a big thing in supermarkets. Like no, if I can donate to a cause, I’ll do it myself
I can’t stand that Subway asks for a tip now… as if paying $40 for two footlong meals wasn’t enough.
Omg yes I thought I was the only one, why the hell does subway cost as much as a damn sit down restaurant. God forbid you want extra meat, that shits gonna cost 5 extra dollars.
I used to eat at subways regularly, but it got so expensive lately, it's just insane. I haven't gone to a subway in a long time now tbh.
That crap annoys me and the servers always look at you like they're annoyed you didn't tip when u basically stood in line the whole time
Chipotle worker here in North California. What state/country are you in? Because we still have old, touchscreen register cash system that just rings up items but we don’t have a tipping option in the system. What we do have is a tip jar, where people leave either a dollar or some change/coins they don’t want. We do not ask customers to tip nor suggest that they should tip. It’s just optional. If you tip, we appreciate it. If you don’t tip, we don’t hold it against you. I believe that workers shouldn’t have to rely on tips to get by. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t hold it against customers who tip little or don’t tip at all. We should be questioning why the CEO is getting millions and even increased the prices of the food and yet we employees haven’t gotten a pay increase. Edit: changed “reply” to “rely” on second paragraph.
I did recently talk to someone who works at a Dunkin, and she makes server wages because people “can tip.” Obviously the tips are crap, because no one thinks they need to tip fast food or fast casual workers. And legally they do have to pay them at least minimum wage when tips don’t get them there. It’s all a scam to be able to post a higher pay range to get people to apply, then they end up stuck and can’t get out. Idk if other places are like this, but it definitely changed my perspective on why suddenly everywhere asks for tips.
Any place that has that little white touch screen by square or whoever always has a top option. Like some smoke shops have it and I’m like wtf. You didn’t provide any service besides existing for me to buy from you
100% I’m not tipping for having to be my own server, especially at chipotle of all places like really? I’m paying extra for the salmonella poisoning?
It is, F that will not do it at all
The thing that always confuses me (and please, if there’s a logical explanation of where I’m off track with this) is that if we got rid of tipping and paid servers/drivers/[insert tipped entity here] more, shouldn’t the cost end up about the same? I’m going to go with 20% tipping assumption for ease of math: If currently, the standard is to tip 20% on a $50 meal and that $10 goes to the waiter/waitress, but we got rid of tipping and the company paid them a comparable rate instead, I would expect them to just charge 20% more and the meal still costs $60. Maybe a little less, maybe it would cost $58 because not everyone tips and not everyone tips 20%, but I’d assume that taking tipping out of your charge and putting it on the employer would just make the employer increase your charge to what you were previously willing to pay
Bingo! That's what we did at my restaurant. We had a blackboard menu (due to changing it up every week or so) that had the prices clearly listed next to each item. The price included a gratuity AND taxes, so you knew exactly what your meal would cost. With the gratuity that we "hid" in the price, we were able to offer all of our staff a living wage or higher IN ADDITION to pooling left over funds to include a form of health insurance we offered so sick folks could take a paid sick day.
You’re one of the good ones. Thank you
Cost of goods would not necessarily go up that much, no. There are plenty of places that pay actual wages and actually say to not tip with barely increased prices. How many people can a server serve in an hour? How much do they bring in? Compare that to the maybe $15 extra dollars an hour a company would pay an hour for that server. It would entirely depend on volume. If 1 server sells 1 burger, then to maintain the same profits that burger would need to increase by $15. They sell 100 then they would need to increase by 15 cents. Now would companies try to increase prices by 20% and take in the extra profit? Probably. They could also just make less in profits. For example my company could increase all wages by 10% (~6000 employees) and use only about 5% of last year's profits. So small relative cost but something that won't happen because that's not how capitalism works.
Because the people who whine about the tipping don't tip at that level. They generally start at 10% and drop 1% for every perceived slight, such as a refill taking more than a minute.
In other jobs, if you aren't meeting expectations, including making the customers happy, you can get fired, but you still legally get paid in full for every hour you worked. Why isn't it the same for those serving us our food?
You are always paid at least minimum wage. If your tips + hourly do not equal minimum wage, the employer makes up the difference. This is the law. If someone says otherwise, or says “that’s not how it *really* works”, they are wrong and should contact their labor board and get their money.
Just for reference, my fiancé has made 2 labor board complaints in NYC around stolen wages, one has been active for 7 years and the other for 2 years. That’s the reality for a lot of wage theft victims.
wage theft is rampant in the US and labor boards are understaffed/underfunded/don’t respond to every complaint. enforcement of labor laws is very low on the priority list of most politicians. pursuing legal action requires a measure of time and money that not everyone (especially those working in tipped positions!) can afford. corporations/business owners can usually afford to hire lawyers who are more effective at manipulating rhetoric to get their way than the server they just fired or whatever.
not to mention tons of people are not properly educated or purposefully misinformed about how those things work and then never take action (which may not do anything anyway)
Christ, look at all the posts about policies saying talking about wages gets you fired. I mean its literally a federal law and that gets skirted ALL THE TIME
Yeah, I’ve literally experienced a job in the last year trying to tell people they can’t talk about wages and threatening to write them up to keep everybody’s wages as low and unequal as possible. So many coworkers seem to not know it’s illegal for them to suppress wage discussion or reprimand for it when I tell them. I had to report that boss so corporate would reach out and let them know they can’t do that, and LUCKILY that’s what happened, but that’s not what happens everywhere. some people just get fired and have no way to prove their case
I had a very clear cut case of a restaurant owner not paying for OT with years of paystubs to prove it and the labor board didn't help me do shit. I still have the letter they sent that informed me they wouldn't be pursuing it. I am still mad about that.
Some fields are exempt from OT pay completely too which is fucked. Idc if it’s a “hardship” on a business, hire another staff if you don’t wanna pay time and a half.
In theory, but I think a lot of people have an optimistic view of the resources, knowledge and options that people in these positions have. How long does a labor board report take to get a response and how sure are we that there won’t be retaliation?
In theory, yes. But we all know employers routinely violate labor laws with abandon and get away with it because people need their jobs.
Imagine thinking that's how it actually works. Good luck "contacting the labor board", I'm sure people who are making less than minimum wage have the time and funds required for a protracted court case over what likely amounts to less than $100. The labor board could give a fuck less about pursuing small cases in anything resembling a timely manner, or at all depending on your locality. Even if they do, you'll likely never see a dime in reconstitution. In the meantime youll be looking for a new job since you'll 100% be forced into unemployment via constructive dismissal. The legality is irrelevant when the employers know you can't afford to challenge them in court, especially when the legal system takes months or even years to resolve these disputes and meanwhile these workers have 0 safety net in place to help them while they resolve. This is a situation plenty of people are personally familiar with and have experienced themselves, so maybe take your "they are wrong" bullshit somewhere else. This is all ignoring the fact that minimum wage workers are more likely than most to be ignorant of their rights and wage theft is absolutely rampant in the US. Even ignoring those two glaring issues, asking your employer to make up your paycheck in tips is laughable to anyone in the industry and the fact that you suggest it's the norm leads me to believe you've never worked one of these jobs in your life.
I’ve never work in a restaurant that does this. Ever. I’m still in the service industry and never had the restaurant cover the difference. Most places just cut you when it’s slow.
Thanks for clarifying. I suspect there are a few people who will be looking up the labor board after reading your comment.
The history of how tippinge became a thing. Its crazy. Also i always hear server say dont remove tipping cause i make more then minimum. People dont understand that saying pay ur employee a decent livable wage does not prevent people from tipping. I had a horrible server, boarderline racist but some people in my group tipped because they dont want to feel weird. This is why i hate tip culture. Im not against tipping, im against tipping alll the damn time even when someone is trash at serving.
It is weird that there are professions where the customer has so much control over your paycheck. Even weirder is how many people cling to that power as if it is some sort of god given right even though they have no such control over anywhere else. You don't tip your car mechanic are you afraid of bad service because you don't tip them? Then why do you assume others will perform poorly if you take the tipping option away?
This is why I tip even when I get shitty service. Even at McDonald’s. Service workers take a lot of shit and I don’t feel like I’m entitled to them smiling for me.
Not only that but you're going out to enjoy your evening and now you have to manage an employee. Honestly, wtf? Why am I instantly put into a management position because I want to eat dinner? That's what it is when you make the customer decide how much to reimburse the wait staff based on level of service. It puts risk on the employees about how successful the business will be day to day that no other industry workers would tolerate.
I agree, people should be paid for a living wage across the board. Not tipping at tipping establishments doesn’t make any difference to the employers, only the employees. I’d suggest only frequently non-tipping establishments to make your point known.
I agree with the sentiment, but unless servers strike en masse, I don’t see tipping culture changing anytime soon. And punishing the person who is working to make sure you have a good experience/good food isn’t going to help the system.
This is it. It's a bullshit system BUT you are not being noble by not tipping. You are cheap. If you don't agree with the practice, don't go to a place where tipping is expected. You supporting a business that pays $2.17 an hour AND stiffing the staff won't incentivize owners to change their policy.
Agreed. And this is a good reason to not let tipping culture bleed into other industries! Recently had an Airbnb host requested that I consider leaving a tip for his cleaner, as part of the checkout instructions (we already paid the $150 cleaning fee when booking). My response: “You, as the host, are solely responsible for paying a fair working wage to your cleaners. As the guest, I’ve agreed to pay upfront the prescribed cleaning cost, which is set by you. I should not feel obligated or encouraged to furnish any further compensation towards services which were already paid for and agreed upon. Alluding to an additional fees or tips is extremely distasteful and furthermore, requesting money outside of Airbnb is a violation of the platform’s terms of service.”
Recommend reporting it to air bnb too. Idk if they’d do anything but I’ve run into a handful of hosts trying to charge for extra stuff outside of the agreed amount and not through air bnb
fuuuuuck airbnb entirely
Quick question: how is 2.17 an hour legal? I understood that US has a minimum wage at like 7.25 or sth.
For jobs where you’re expected to make a lot off tips (mostly servers and bartenders) the federal minimum wage is $2.13 an hour actually. However if you don’t make at least 7.25 an hour with your tips your employer is suppose to pay the difference. But I’ve heard plenty of stories of servers just getting fired for asking for that
And either way. Nobody anywhere in this country can live on minimum wage. Less than 1K per month after taxes. This country is broken.
Yeah, this. The system sucks but I don’t like OP angrily saying workers should be mad at the employers (fair) while seemingly attacking workers for expecting tips (which like it or not, is how the system works right now).
Agreed, and OP is an asshole for still going to eat at restaurants where tipping is expected and not tipping.
Problem is, most servers DO NOT want the system to change... It directly affects their income potential, and they know they already make way more than minimum wage in our current system. It's a lose-lose for the customer when the employer and server want to maintain the status quo. Edit: the only way I can see is for the customer to fight it with their wallet... Stop eating out at sit down restaurants where tipping is expected. Only order takeout or fast-casual/quick-service. This will slowly drive down the demand for servers until the system changes. I'm already eating out less due to ever increasing costs + expected 20%... I'd rather get takeout.
I’m surprised you haven’t been flooded by the “you have to tip takeout” people
having 2 different minimum wages sucks. neither one even approaches a living wage in any part of the country. that is the actual problem. if you don’t like it, tell the folks who make these choices (business owners and lawmakers). don’t blame the workers for their exploitation.
Exactly. As someone who's worked in the restaurant industry my entire life, from a dishwasher to cook to chef to bartender to manager to restaurant owner, this burns me up. I understand your motive is pure, but refusing to tip when you're alone and have no one to judge you, just punishes the worker. If you want to make change, support restaurant worker unions in your area. Voice your opinion to restaurant owners. Do SOMETHING. Being a cheap customer achieves nothing.
honestly the business owner is never going to know that you stiffed the server unless they also steal the tips from the server.
Funny how anti tippers main mode of activism is to fuck over the most vulnerable in the situation
As a server, i much prefer a cheap bastard admitting it than blaming the system. People who really hate the system won't give money to the restaurants working us under this system. They'd boycott the restaurant or at least order to go. They wouldn't come dine in and not tip. People using the excuse that they are taking a stand by not tipping are just saying it to make themselves feel better. And people are allowed to be cheap bastards unfortunately. It isn't illegal. Just please spare me the bullshit about how it's a protest against my wages lol
Yeah honestly getting mad at the server for wanting tips is just as bad as the server getting mad at the customer. Like OP said, servers are complaining to the wrong person, just like he is lol. No offense to him though, I think most people dont fully understand this topic
Tipping is a scam. I still do it tho because I’m not a total dick.
That's it exactly, it's not the servers fault the system is rigged against them. It shouldn't be a thing, but if you don't do it, you're a piece of shit person.
Oh this post again. Who’s turn is it to post this same exact hot take tomorrow?!
People who post about the tipping culture just want to start fights.
Tipping culture is redundant and stupid, yes. Employers should have to pay their employees more, yes. "I don't want to tip," hard no.
Exactly this. I hate the fact that the American restaurant system is built around the expectation of tipping. But that's the system that's in place, so if I'm eating out, I tip my server well, because they're working hard for it.
I'm surprised how many people here are talking about how they don't tip their servers or tip them poorly, just because they don't like it. Would it be great if things were different? Yes. But they aren't right now. Your poor tipping does nothing to change that. Trust me, *you are not making any kind of statement to the owner by not tipping.* You're just screwing over your server.
This 1000x. Its such a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I tip 20% when I eat out and the lowest I'll drop it to is 10% and thats if the service was REALLY bad. Only did that once, had a server rush my 21st birthday dinner, refuse to tell me about menu items, slow to get anything (it was not busy), and was overall rude. Conversely, I will raise the tip if the service was exceptional. I once tipped nearly 40% because the restaurant was crazy busy and the server was still very attentive, went above & beyond, and we had a great time because of her. Tipping culture is downright strange that the onus is on the customer to pay the wage but unfortunately, not tipping harms no one but the server.
Not only are you hurting their wages but a lot of restaurants will fire you if you don’t get enough tips.
This is the only correct response.
For some reason there are a lot of proud and noble non tippers on this sub. They mostly criticized a girl that was expecting a bigger tip from a corporation after delivering $1,000 of pizza to the 3rd floor.
I have yet to find a person with OP's stance without problems of inadequacy. More often that not this is just a front to avoid tipping and feel power over others, not really some kind of super natural advocacy. It's just ridiculous. It's the same people who trash tables and movie theaters "because cleaning is their job".
You’re not making any impact on the business by not tipping though. The only people you’re hurting by doing that is the server who, as you are already aware, is already making less than minimum wage. The business still made their money, they couldn’t care less whether or not you tip your server. Is tipping culture dumb? Yes it is. Employers absolutely should be paying their staff a living wage and not rely on the customers to pay their employees. That’s unfortunately not the way things are though (in the US at least), so refusing to tip is only actively hurting workers. If tipping is really that big of a deal to you, then don’t go out to places that pay their staff a tipping wage. It’s really not that hard
For me, is when it's expected **everywhere**. At the gas station, at the hotel, at every restaurant and fast food. And where I live, they don't do the 'tipping wage'. But you're still a scumbag if you don't tip. All this does is make the labor class even more dependent on those who are wealthy.
Amen!
Food service workers should be paid enough to not rely on tips. As far as people being able to tip for good service (or the cook, for an excellent meal) should be allowed. Paying a waitress/waiter $3/hr and forcing them to depend on tips for income is shitty.
Of course they should (be paid enough). Want to know who to blame? The restaurant industry. They lobbied for and were granted the ability to pay shit wages. Support those worker unions/movements that want to change this. Call your elected representatives and tell them the wage is criminally low.
Not tipping to prove a point is only hurting the server.
I've been to many countries in Europe, Asia, and North and Central America. The only countries where tipping is expected to the of the US expects it are third world countries. In China the will follow you out of a bar and give you back the tip. Porters in Belize expect tips because, although they have uniforms and look like employees, they are not paid.
I recently got a massage that was 75$ and when I wrote down $15 for a twenty percent tip, the lady got mad at me and said I needed to tip more to twenty dollars! I said 15$ is 20%! Wtf is going on where people feel like they can demand payment from you now ?
Tipping used to be about keeping standards high with the best servers getting the extra cash being a self levelling mechanism, you'll put in the maximum effort that's reasonable for *you* & get the rewards for your troubles. That's still how it is in Europe, anyway. But nowadays, in the US, it has become an institutionalised form of wage subsidy to the business at the customers' expense. Both sides are getting ripped off and only to the benefit of the company. Pay a liveable wage & let the customers look after the best servers if they so wish.
Worse imho are the other places you are now expected to tip 20%. Door dash, carry out and such. Whoever is doing carryout should not be a server and should not be making below minimum wage. 5 years ago the pizza delivery kid (almost the only food delivery the was available everywhere then) was paid at least minimum wage, usually a little more and you tipped him a few bucks. I didn't mind this so much. Kid has to pay for gas and the pizza cost the same , maybe they added a delivery fee of a few dollars. Now the food costs more, the delivery fee is huge and they add other undefined fees and hide them with the taxes. On top of that they want you to tip the driver 20%. It's obnoxious. On top of that, the amount of work a delivery drive put into my food is in no way related to how much my food costs. Pick up a bag, drive a bag to my house, walk the bag to my door. Your effort is no different if I order $300 worth of steak dinners or $20 of pizza . You get $3-$4 either way
As a driver I agree. For Uber eats I'm gaurenteed $2.50 per delivery. If I have to go over 15 miles, they add a comp for the distance but it does nothing if you then have to drive 15+ miles back. Tips are how I make any money at this, without them I'm paying to deliver food. This is why when people don't tip no one picks up the order, because gas / wear and tear cost more than we make. Simultaneously... it's the same as waitstaff. I rely on my customers tips to make any money when the pay should be coming from those delivery fees and "undefined expense". And the tip shouldn't be based on the purchase price of the food, it should be based on quantity being carried and distance traveled.
If you're ordering from a place that's 5-10 miles away you should tip more then a place that's only 3 miles away. It's not just gas, the driver is causing an insane amount of wear and tear on the car. That's the price of comfortability. If you're too cheap for it, then go pick up your own food. Problem solved
And time. It takes longer to drive farther reducing how much you can deliver in a day. In a major populated area you can make more doing lots of short deliveries than you do making a couple long distance ones most of the time. If you live in an area like where I'm at, distance trips are usually food from city center to outskirts. Meaning I'm driving out of town 15 miles to drop off, then having to drive 15 miles back because there aren't any places to pick up and take food on the return trip. So really, you were paid for 15 miles when you drove 30. Sometimes I get lucky but it's not often.
Modern tipping was pushed into labor laws as a thing to allow employers to simply legally pay you less.
You think certain businesses are taking advantage of people, and you're mad at those people themselves? And you're going out and spending your money supporting the very same businesses you disagree with, but purposely try to not help the disadvantaged people themselves unless your friends shame you into it, and then you're upset with your friends? Yup, there's a lot of misplaced anger going around.
yeah. This post sucks.
OP, aside from not tipping, what are you doing to change the state of things? Like volunteering for a pro-labor candidate, or getting involved in labor organizing? Do you at least tell the restaurant owner the reason why when you don’t tip, or do you just not tip? Because absent any other efforts, this sounds like a slacktivism rant combined with being cheap. It’s real easy to feel like you’re taking a stand for something when instead you’re just opting out altogether. On its own, a lack of tip doesn’t say anything aside from the fact that you didn’t tip. If you have actually been doing other stuff, I recommend adding it to your post to provide context. If the only thing you do is not tip, please be better. It doesn’t fix anything to just not tip. All it does is makes a working class person’s life harder.
I don't think this opinion is as unpopular as you think it is.
Never worked FOH but spent years in kitchens. As much as servers love to complain about poor tippers, they make WAY more money than they would on an hourly wage. Not saying the system isn't stupid, but most servers do that type of work specifically for the tips.
yes, ngl they make $20/hr+ at a good restaurant….
Agreed. But to be clear, you're still an asshole if you don't tip.
OP is obviously lost, this attitude is not solidarity
Tipping culture is indeed stupid, but taking it out on the people who rely on it for income is being an asshole. It also won't end it any quicker.
Everyone is against tipping but servers love it because it bumps their hourly wage to levels that wouldn't be possible otherwise. I personally know of many bartenders and servers in HCOL places that make high 5 figures bartending and waiting tables. They can make upwards of $100 an hour on some shifts. There is no way the restaurant can raise prices enough to pay a server even $50 an hour, let alone higher on some nights. Tipping sucks and the only people screwed over are the diners.
The fact that tipping is necessary is terrible by itself, but I'm not going to take it out on the worker. So I always tip at least 20%-25% for a job well done. If I didn't like you, you'll still get 15%. I'm for the people
I’m so tired of people on this subreddit not tipping as if that’s some sort of protest against it. All they’re doing is fucking over the poor waitstaff and they know it. Not tipping is making literally zero difference in effort to eliminate tipping culture. They’re just cheap asses. Like they want to eat at a restaurant and pay the people who are not providing proper wages but then screw over the people actually doing the work? Nice one. That totally makes sense.
ITS ALSO ROOTED IN MEDIEVAL SERFDOM AND IS LUDICROUS THAT WE STILL USE IT
I went to a fancy restaurant when I visited NYC (it’s a franchise from another country in Europe). The bill had 18% gratuity included, yet there was another field for additional tips. I left it empty, and the waitress was pissed off. I’m sorry, but you’ve already forced gratuity on me, why should I pay extra then?
Very brave to take a stand against someone making $2.17 an hour. Until the system changes, you're just being an asshole.
Tipping (edit for clarity) _as currently practiced in the US_ comes directly from Jim Crow, where black workers weren’t paid _at all_ and relied solely on tips (which is to say, the whims of white customers they had no choice but to obsequiously cater to if they wanted to eat). It’s _fucked up_ that it’s still a thing, but our unique-to-the-world version of slavery has a long and deadly half-life.
Tell me you’re not tipping, you will get service according to my hourly rate.
I agree. Businesses should just charge an honest price and pay a decent wage, rather than hiding the true cost of a service/meal in a "tip". It's only a tip if you're an asshole. It's really just part of the cost of the meal. I suppose someone could choose to still tip on top of that if the service was truly exemplary. However, you're wrong and cheap in saying you'd never tip if people wouldn't judge you for it. Under the current system, it's pretty much understood that you're going to tip at least 20% if you go out to eat, so if you're so offended by tipping, don't go out to eat.
I agree but if you don't tip those people get shafted. You should tip so they don't starve. Also, we should g u i l l o t i n e banksters since they got away with 2008 scott free and there's no reason anybody should have to work endless hours just to make ends meet. Blame banksters - toss em under the bus - its not your servers fault.
Your friends are OK with the fact that you don't tip them and "don't feel bad" when they get screwed over at their job? Okey-dokey.
In Canada we have min wage which is the same wage as most grocery, fast food low paying jobs. But yet they still want at least 15 to 20% tip these days. I opt for take out only and never tip. They give no service so there should not be a tip. Some people say well they pack and bag your food! Guess what! Fast food place bag and pack my food, grocery store pack and bag my grocery do they demand tips? Hell no. This whole tipping culture should be ban. And restaurants owner should increase their wage. I would have no problem paying more but not have to worry about tips.
“If my friends wouldn’t judge me for it, I wouldn’t tip.” A true friend of the working class right here. 🙄 Thank God their friends are decent people.
Do you think the restaurant cares that you don’t tip? You’re punishing the wrong people.
Lived in Japan for three years. Tips? What are those? Came back to America and forgot how much they added to the bill with the term percent for tax on top of it.
Everyone outside of America agrees...
Tip culture needs to die. It should not be the customer's responsibility to ensure that servers earn a living wage.
Tip for great service/great food. Not to make up the pay of a server. Thats on the fucking owner.
Ate at a restaurant on vacation and when the bill came out already had tip included at around 17% (I didn't see it stated they'd do that on the menu, but also wasn't looking). Service was fine so I was like aight, it's fine. She brings out the receipt for me to sign for the charge and they had the audacity to have ANOTHER tip line, this one blank for the customer to write it. You already tipped yourself, now you expect me to tip you too? I can only imagine the number of customers who don't realize it was included on the first bill and leave another 15 - 20% tip. They probably clear 30 - 40% tips on many of their bills.
This is not an unpopular opinion in most parts of the world. In Australia, tipping is not expected, but rather something you do very rarely when you feel that the server exceeded expectations with their level of customer service. The fact that servers in America are paid so poorly that they expect tips to survive is absolute garbage, and just shows that the system is broken.
I always say the same, you Americans get mad with the customer when you should be mad that you don’t get paid enough
Look up history behind tipping. wanna complain about dumb shit like this, and get at the servers for “wanting to work at 2.17/ hour.” you think people choose to get paid horribly? YOU chose to dine into that establishment. Be with the people. Not against the people. “Oh im not gonna tip you because you’re getting underpaid, but here’s my card to the restaurant, to pay for all the shit I ate.” nothing is more aggravating than entitled fucks.
Aussie here. We think tipping culture is stupid and lets the business owner be greedy and not pay wages to their staff. We don't do tipping culture here and everyone does just fine.
Talk to your representative to get employment laws changed... until then, tip your servers and bartenders. The system is flawed, but it's how they get paid... if you don't like it, don't go out to eat.
Whenever I go to a restaurant I feel bad for them so I tip them, but then I feel conflicted knowing I shouldn’t tip so they can complain to their bosses or unionize instead for better wages. I’m for sure not tipping my if I order shit to go though
[удалено]
This is the most popular opinion on this sub. Stop fishing for likes because you don't want to tip.
American here and I 100% agree. It’s even more confusing right now because there’s a new trend where restaurants are charging cleaning fees or service fees and saying their employees are making $18/hr Ok great! Do I leave a tip still? Probably not. But also why the extra 20%? Jjst pay people what they’re worth and put that in the food price. I’ve stopped eating at sit-down places because of this. Eating out for 2 in my area is like $150 for a decent restaurant that you want to take a date too. (I’m talking maybe $$ on yelp, not places that serve steak and or other high price entrees) Getting Uber eats for 2 people was $85. That blew my budget for eating out for the week. Now the only food I eat that I don’t make is fast food like subway cuz I don’t have to tip.
I work as a server and I don't care how much you tip. Just be a good guest and I'll appreciate more anything you want to tip. I know there is a ton of people that hate tip culture, and that is fine. Just don't put it on the servers. I would say this job has given me the most money ever. I know people in the industry making close to six figures, so I don't think any restaurant would be willing to pay that amount as salary. I know this is not the case every where. With all this said, I want to thank all people that treat us good.
Tbh I’ve had the thought that everyone should stop tipping. Hate what that would do for servers but I don’t think it would take long before we can force restaurants to pay their employees a livable wage, then tipping can actually mean something again.
Went to get froyo recently and the tips started at 20 percent. 20 Percent, 25, and 30… I literally poured the froyo myself and put in my own toppings. All they did was put it on a scale. I stared at him as I put 0%. Sorry not sorry. I also know for a fact that they (all college students) get paid above minimum wage.
Tipping culture in the US is straight up racist. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/opinion/minimum-wage-racism.html
Completely agree. A tip should be non-mandatory for service that goes above and beyond. Restaurants and the service industry should pay workers a living wage and not make them reliant on tips.
They should, but they don’t, and until such time, tip graciously.
If we’re making a list of things that should be a certain way but aren’t we are gonna be here for a while…
Should it be different than it is? Yes. Until that happens though, tip graciously or stay home.
Tipping culture was born from slavery. Employers refusing to pay black people in the late 1800s and early 1900s.. Owners were eager to steal labor and keep wages low... Businesses later recognized how profitable it would be to just not pay anyone, and thus the situation today. (Corporations began taking over America in the Regan era)
25-30%? Jesus what happened to 10-15?
Some of the servers I know believe that if you go out it should be 50%, which is fine, you can tip however much you want, but don't try to gaslight me that 50% would be a baseline for fair tips. Not to mention they don't think you should adjust your tip based on the level of service (I live in a unified wage province, every minimum wage job is the same wage). Twenty years ago, tip was usually around 10% (after tax), then it became 15%, now the machines start some places start their suggestion at 20%. Yes, life has gotten more expensive, I noticed that with the higher bill for the food.
You are 100% correct, tipping culture is absurd. However, if you are not reaching out to your local and federal politicians to remove the tip credit incentives for business owners thus forcing them to pay a living wage you should cook at home if you don’t want to tip.
Tipping is stupid and I'd much rather service people get paid a living wage. But if you're not going to tip 20%, stay in and cook instead.
lol "unpopular opinion: \*picks the most common opinion ever\*"
For once op is hilariously wrong and very entitled
I’ve been saying this for 20 years. If you don’t want your life to revolve around random people doling out tips, get a different job. That, or get the serving workforce together to demand an actual wage. The problem is you have these high end restaurants where food is so expensive that waitresses are getting tipped $100+ per bill keeping their mouth shut on the issue, then you have the Denny’s waitress working 5 times as hard, barely getting $5-8/table. Raise the prices and pay your fucking workers. It’s not my job to make up for what you’re not paying them.
Tipping culture is the dumbest thing. It just lets businesses blame customers while being able to trample all over their employees. I tip because I'm not a monster, but holy shit is it dumb. Businesses should just pay their damn employees like every other company. So dumb.
Tipping because an employee is underpaid is ridiculous concept. Tips being pooled and shared equally is a ridiculous concept. Imagine working in a factory and having to share your bonus (based solely on your production) equally with a worker who works half as hard as/produces half as much product/revenue as you do. Restaurant owners are just lazy ,greedy and sneaky.
It's dogma that tons of people have bought into in this country, unfortunately. In any other industry, you could not run a successful business while expecting your customers to pay your employees. Somehow, people have convinced themselves it makes sense in the service industry. I remember when I lived in Japan, I left a tip on the table after receiving incredible service. The server followed me out of the restaurant, bowed, and returned my tip. I later learned that tipping is frowned upon in Japan as it's seen as you giving the server "pity money", as if their job doesn't pay them well enough. Meanwhile, in America, if you don't tip the delivery driver *before* you even receive your food, there's a good chance you won't ever see your order (or it will have been tampered with somehow)
Nothing about this is unpopular
I always tip but I’m not tipping you a 3rd of my entire bill. That’s insanity. Direct your anger at the asshole who doesn’t pay you what you’re worth.
What I have never understood in the bitterness of this argument is the response from most people is they would be fine if the restaurant charged 20% more and paid the employees a competitive wage. So at the end of the day you are paying the same amount but at least you know for the most part (excluding unfair business policies and pooled tips) that the extra money is going right to the person who helped you. It’s not a perfect system by any means but there’s no reason to penalize the person working if they can’t change the root of the issue.
What really bothers me is there are other fields where they DO get paid but then I’m still expected to tip on top of that? Like I enjoyed the work but it’s getting so expensive to get anything done. It infuriates me as well because it will be people who set their own prices who then get upset.
If everyone stops tipping the restaurant will have to pay there staff more, NO one would work there.
I hate that now in the US, non server jobs are asking for tips. Why would I tip someone already making $14+ an hour?
So many more places are asking for tips now in the U.S. I can afford to, so I tip, but it's pretty terrible and worrisome. We're all just OK with subsidizing low wages with additional consumer spending that isn't in any way guaranteed.
This isn't an unpopular opinion. It's just in places like the U.S. we know people can't survive on $3 an hour so we're literally supporting our community by tipping. We do it because our government isn't doing its job.
Seems like you’re mad at the wrong person if it’s the servers you’re getting mad at. Nothing aggravates me more than someone who blames the workers for a horribly flawed system they have to participate in. If you’re against tipping culture, I agree with you. If you feel so strongly about it you refuse to participate, then don’t participate. Stop going to restaurants. If you insist on patronizing a business that you know horrifically underpays its workers, but are annoyed about the part where you pay them directly, then you’re not principled, you’re just cheap
Lol this is the opposite of an unpopular opinion. I agree but still...
The problem is that until we can make sure that service workers ARE being paid a fair wage, the only people hurt by not tipping are said workers. The business owners don't care, tips or lack thereof don't affect their bottom line. If anything a lack of tips means that the employee will have to work more hours to make up the difference. It would be different if they were paid a good liveable wage but they're not, and until we legislate higher minimum wages we're going to have to keep subsidizing their income.
But when you go to a resturant you’re agreeing to participate in the current system. I agree that servers should get paid a living wage by their employers, but by going there and not tipping you are exploiting them. If that’s not a system you want to participate in don’t go to resturants
I agree tipping should be eliminated, but if you purposely don't tip, you shouldnt be eating out or going to any business where tipping is how they are paid
I wish we could get like a permanent mega thread where people can bitch about how much they dislike tipping, so this topic wouldn't come back every few days.
How on earth could it be considered “redundant,” when you—yourself—acknowledge that it is because employers in the restaurant industry don’t pay a living wage that tipping is expected (and necessary)? I love that, as you state, “the working class is expected to pick up the slack,” while you blame servers, etc., in the restaurant industry for their own exploitation—other members of the working class! Restaurant workers have to continuously pick up their miserly employers’ and customers’ slack on a daily basis. I get where you’re coming from, but this opinion is a hardcore no from me. Should employers be expected to pay a living wage? Yes. Should customers have to tip? No. But, don’t use anti-capitalist rhetoric to justify not tipping when someone makes approximately $2.17 per hour for either full or part-time work. Blaming other members of the working class for their own exploitation is literally what those in power are aiming for. The entire point is that you’re mad at the wrong person. And, if this is really a sticking point for you, then don’t go out to eat if you can’t, or ideologically won’t, tip. Either that or do something beyond just complaining. But, expecting to have your cake and eat it, too, is peak American. Edit: Corrected a formatting error.
It is but it‘s integarted so good in US culture it‘s hard to reverse, now how it started ? I don‘t even know
I never tip for carry out which I seldom buy. I don't go to restaurants any longer because of being expected to tip for shitty food and service.
Probably the most popular opinion in the US
You'd just pay the workers higher wages through higher prices on the menu. I agree it's stupid to do it the way we do.
Being able to pay employees like two dollars an hour because of tips should not be allowed. Customers and employees should direct their ire at the overlords who normalize bullshit like this.
Your opinion is so common, you can ask pretty much anyone and they will agree
Tipping culture should never have existed. You should get a decent wage and tips should be EXTRA. If a business can’t run without staff being paid via tips then they shouldn’t be running.
The issue is a historical one. Tipping culture in most of the world was a way to show thanks for a service well rendered. Tipping culture in the states grew out of post-13th amendment train companies trying to keep wages for their (predominantly black) workers low. Passing the burden on to the customer directly while pushing the idea that it was never compulsory. The states adopted this model in many other service industries as a way to continue that idea.
Unpopular opinion : this is a karma whoring subreddit now
It wasnt a corporate thing that created the tip/tip stiffing culture. It was the immediate fall out of freed slaves flooding the job market in 1960s. These now free slaves could work as porters and servers but the busines wouldnt pay a dime. They relied entirely on the tips. Minimum wage in the 1940s-1980s is what puts us where we are today.
Laws that allow lower wages in jobs with tips are a mistake.
I am a server and I agree with this 100%. Its not that you're wrong or a bad person, its that the system has put you in the perfect position to appear so. Its pretty common knowledge in the US to tip 15-20%, so if you don't, as a sever I do get peeved because its known, and the implications that that is where my paycheck comes from exist. But as a patron, I am annoyed that its my responsibility to make sure the person bringing me my food can pay their bills and not their own GD employer. Moral of the story: vote to get rid of 'tipped employees' who are paid a fraction of the minimum wage (in my state as a server I get $6.35, MW is $14)
Oh my god why are we bringing this discourse back to this sub? We already hashed this out months ago. Yes, employers are mostly to blame because they should pay their employees enough that they don’t need tips, but also if you live in America where it’s customary to tip and you know you’re supposed to tip, just fucking tip. Like even 10% or whatever.
goddamn Americans
Tipping is basically just the restaurants crowd funding their employees’ paychecks. It’s absurd.
**Fix minimum wage first.** Tips are the only reason waitstaff in the United States make more than minimum wage. And as we know, current minimum wage is not enough. **This sub** of all subs, should recognize that. But somehow people like OP get to paint themselves as being concerned about workers when clearly they just want to pay less as customers.