this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2024
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In USAland, a tip is an extra pay on top of whatever you paid for, which is supposed to go straight to the worker that served you. They expect tips because their salaries are criminally low and "it makes people work better"
Wait, but why doesn't the business just pay them better?
They don't have to, legally. Some asshole managed to convince Congress that all restaurants would go out of business if they had to pay minimum wage back in the 1930s when minimum wage was set up. Because of said cheap rich asshole, there is a normal minimum wage which is $7.25/hr, and a service minimum wage which is $2.13/hr.
In theory the restaurant is supposed to ensure that you make at least minimum wage. In practice they just fire you if you dare to ask for minimum compensation.
Does not apply in California, Massachusetts, or NY, that I am aware of
Wait, but if I tip, wouldn't it just be the same as if the business charged more and paid their employees properly?
Well yes, but then they'd have to pay their employees out of their money, instead of relying on the kindness of their customers.
But isn't that what they're supposed to do?
Ahh, I see the confusion. This is the US where you do anything you can to screw others out of money so maybe you can retire about 30 minutes before you die.
Oh I see, so then I shouldn't tip. Got it.
Just a note on this: while federal minimum wage is actually that low, many states individually set much higher minimum wages.