Why are restaurant workers compensated by tipping?

[lightbulb27]

I'm guessing because it is"personal service and it's motivation to get things done quickly, right, and care for your interests. Back in the 1950's the waitress/waiter would skate out to your car to serve you, that takes some work and speed covers distance... thus maybe more "tip".

Is there another reason for this societal arrangement?

"Would you get me a knife please..." No, you have legs, get one over there...

Updates

+1 y

gotta wonder with inflation, if all workers will put out a tip jar.

[Cynicaldreamer]

Because rather than raise their wages to something reasonable, they expect customers to tip them to compensate for it... it's disgusting really. Restaurant workers deal with some of the worse crap from customers, yet get paid terribly. And let's throw in the people that don't tip, or barely tip the workers... so they're barely getting by in some cases.

I'm not opposed to them being tipped, but how about also giving them livable wages to reflect their work as well?

[lightbulb27]

I'd not heard that they don't do well, maybe it's location dependent. I have to believe those at fast food with fixed wages are the worst.

[Cynicaldreamer]

Where I live, the wage for servers is about 8-9 dollars an hour. Yeah, that's disgusting.
Meaning they pretty much have to be tipped in order to bring home livable wages. So if they have a slow night, or people that refuse to tip them, they don't bring home as much.

[lightbulb27]

someone else mentioned "below" min wage + tips... is the model.
Yea that be a concern in this society where everything shot up in price, people may back off the tips as justication to offset the higher price. we generally tip more than 15%... up to 20% unless it's a really small check, then I may go higher. We like to reward people who work. Not everyone is in such a position nor thinks that way unfortunately. I remember being a cheap college student that tipped 5c for pizza delivery. I didn't understand, and that didn't end well...

Maybe people need to communicate more so we all learn to live in peace...

[Cynicaldreamer]

Exactly!
I don't eat out very often, but the rare times I order a pizza, I always tip the driver... if nothing else, for the gas mileage they drove to my house. I'm noticing most pizza places and some restaurants are now building the tip into the final price when you pay. Even store delivery services, such as Walmart. That way for people that refuse to tip, the driver/server will still receive some compensation.

I agree with that to an extent- I still think they should be given livable wages, while adding in tips as a bonus.

[Guy13]

It’s worse with the counter folks, at Jersey Mikes for instance, wanting tips when you check out too.

It’s not Consumer job to keep the Business’ employee happy. Pay your employees.
I got so turned off by it that I got my last free sub and have not been back for year plus.

[exitseven]

Where I live people who get tips are paid less than the minimum wage the logic being that tips make up the difference

[Astarlessnightsky]

Restaurant owners don't want to pay their service staff a reasonable wage so they shift the responsibility unto the customers.

[LiamJHayden]

It's just the model that developed in many areas. It allows establishments to create the illusion of lower prices than what is really the norm and to directly pay servers less than what would otherwise be required.

[Anonymous]

Because waitress gives private service in the night...

You know what I mean?

[lightbulb27]

never seen that, don't think that's unique to such workers. that's happened with flight attendants. tipping I don't think is related...

[Opinion Owner]

I only give tips when she agreed to give me private service

[lightbulb27]

that's not really the social contract with restaurant workers, it's abusive and kind of pathetic. not sure what world you live in.

[Opinion Owner]

I don't follow rules.
I break the rules..