i got to the usa (california) 6 months ago. what a funny place! among other things, i have been looking at the norms around tipping which make no sense whatsoever. after having spent some time understanding it and disagreeing with most of it, i came to a realization. all the people who tip are subsidizing my dining experience. i dont know how i feel about that.
You expect people to adhere to your customs when in your country. This is no different.
Oh, I certainly don’t expect people to adhere to customs in my country. Especially when they don’t make sense.
This one makes sense, clearly just not to you.
It’s incredibly disrespectful to ignore local custom, regardless of how stupid it may seem to you.
You're a piece of shit. There's a reason why waiters get paid under minimum wage, cuz tip is supposed to cover it.
Well, this is not true in California. And if they don’t make minimum wage, their employer is required to pay them minimum wage, unless I misunderstand.
Paying below the minimum wage is fine, but not wanting to tip someone makes him an awful person.
A lot of people don’t realize California is different from most states. The federal minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers is 2 dollars an hour. In California, they make normal minimum wage before tips. Minimum wage in California is 13 dollars an hour. There’s plenty of people in other industries making minimum wage in California who don’t receive tips. Why don’t you tip at fast food restaurants (the staff work even harder) or take out? Restaurants are using customers to subsidize staff wages so they can keep more profits instead of paying fair wages. You shouldn’t give restaurants that do that your business. Nuff said.
This is also true in Washington where I have travelled for work. I must figure out the situation in the rest of the country.
None of that let’s you off the hook for tipping
Wow this is slightly hostile, if it's any consolation op, I agree, tipping doesn't make sense. I think one of the worst things about it is, if you order one 5$ meal, you pay maybe a dollar? If you order one 50$ meal, you pay maybe 8$? But the work done by the waiter is the same. I think if tipping should continue being a thing, maybe it should be 5$ per meal ordered or something, idk
Waiters have to "pay" the rest of the workers, like the host and busser, a portion of their tips. They still have to pay whether you tip or not. If you don't tip they are literally losing money by serving you.
Don’t forget to tip the police officer if he pulls you over but is super friendly.
I cannot tell! I have never been pulled over. This is sarcasm, yes?
I worked as a waitress for years while studying software and continued doing waitressing shifts to pay off debt while I was a full-time engineer. I made $3.50 an hour if I didn’t get tips. I often got stiffed even after waiting on people hand and foot and bringing them free food and extra services. But tips were the reason I could afford groceries and survive. If you really care about changing the customs you can work to change legislation. If others think like you do, food service people won’t be able to get by. I understand you’re only doing it because you disagree with the custom, but people like you used to make my life a lot harder when I was a waitress.
Thank you for the perspective! I appreciate it. Am I misunderstanding the rule that your employer would be required to pay you minimum wage if you didn’t make that from tips? Also, which state was this? I understand California requires regular minimum wage for wait staff as well. But I will be sure to tip in states where this isn’t the case. Why did you bring them free food? I’d certainly consider tipping for that, but I wonder why that happens?
I don’t think anyone is arguing against this. Most tipped employees absolutely need a tip to survive. But at the same time, there are certain states that require employers to pay tipped employees full state minimum wage before tips. There has also been a movement to pay restaurant workers fair wages.
Just don’t tip if you don’t want to. The waiters might try to hurt your feelings though. If you are thick-skinned and go to restaurants alone you don’t need to tip.
Or just don’t support restaurants that don’t pay their staff fair wages
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Tipping in the US is beyond fucked up and stupid. But if you're stiffing waiters at restaurants that's a really bad idea. If you're sitting down at a restaurant you need to be tipping. Otherwise you may get stabbed or worse
Well, I am a rational actor. If I eat at a place that’s just ok, I am unlikely to go back there. I make sure to get out like a cat on a hot tin roof. If the food is great, and I might go back in 6 months, I tip.
You tip the server based on service quality, you’re not tipping for food quality. The cooks don’t get tips.