Has tipping culture gotten out of control? Why should the public be responsible for employers low wages?

Question

I went to the drive through at Starbucks they requested a tip on the prompter. Wtf all you did was hand me a drink? Restaurants, food delivery, lawn service I tip but this other shit is insane.

DJB72 · Accepted Answer

A "wage" is the minimum financial compensation you'll accept to kill your dreams.

I'm in a dilemma. My son is 5 and my wife and I both lost our jobs in the last two years. There's no social security in South Africa - not you can actually live on - so what's my options?

Simple. I have to start my own business with zero capital to invest. But one thing I'll never do is work for an employer worth billions who won't pay a living wage without tips or commission topping up to cover basic expenses like school fees and health insurance. I don't need fancy holidays or a luxury car. But if I have to work 60 hours a week it's going to be for myself, not reliant on the "tips" from strangers for bringing over food.

Is starting up easy? No. But starving and not feeding my son is harder.

EnglishArtsteacher · Accepted Answer

Yes, but it's  been  out of control here in the United States of America forever. Even with servers, they shouldn't  have  to rely on tips for a livable wage. Their employers should pay them a livable wage. With that being said, if someone is relying on a service worker who is getting either no paycheck, and/or a very small paycheck (i. e. server), please tip them (unless they intentionally do a horrible job). While it's true that their employers  should  pay them a livable wage, it's not their fault that their employers' don't, and not tipping them for this reason is just an excuse to tip (On another note: If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford the service in the first place).

Dinklex3 · Accepted Answer

Definitely. Even when ordering “pick up” they want you to tip 🥴

I can understand if it’s curbside pickup and it’s icy/snowy or some shit. But pick up, when I go inside the shop myself and pick it up? Makes zero sense to me.!

rachel776 · Accepted Answer

Boyfriend was just in Aspen and said on one menu it said, "we are happy to add a 32% gratuity to your check"

rosemilk · Answer

i DO NOT tip at places like that. ever. at all. i only tip at restaurants because i am actively being served. i don't care if they give me a dirty look or anything. i am not there to pay them and they should be mad at their bosses or someone else for not paying them. not me. i used to feel guilty but i got over it quick. i'm done.

and it's just another corrupt issue of america. i really do hope it'll change one day but let's not hold our breath

slatyb · Answer

Yes, it has in my opinion. I tip employees who provide a service. It's absurd to to employees for handling a retail transaction.

MikeFrench · Answer

Here's the thing; some people are cheap asses and don't tip. So the generous tippers have to make up for it. I'd like to abolish tipping and just raise the prices. But the restaurant owners don't like that idea, because it makes their prices look too high. It's all very deceptive. Nothing in the world costs $3.00. But lots of things cost $2.99.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Pretty much. With restaurants it is a way to charge less than the actual price and pay employees less. If I use an Uber or a Lyft I will tip cash, because those people (in California at least) are classified as IC's and get far, far less than what you pay for the ride.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

I agree completely. The implied threat is "if you don't tip enough I will spit in your food".

DryGermanGuy · Answer

The mere existence of these working-poor sectors is a scandal in itself.

HouseMoat · Answer

Why do tipped jobs exist then? Shouldn't everyone just plain get min. wage, and noone gets tipped

Crankor · Answer

Tipping is getting ridiculous. I agree, I'm not going to tip a food place for food when they just brought it from the kitchen to the counter for me to pick up. Same more cafes. Unless they went out of their way to do something for me then no.

wiltingrosepetal · Answer

Yep, it's ridiculous. I'm glad I don't have to tip anyone, that social pressure must be annoying

PeachyPie93 · Answer

Yeah that is why I rather eat fast food then to eat in at a restaurant. Waste of money.

pascal_climbs · Answer

Fortunately in Europe we don't have that problem. Those people get a decent wage, forced by law.

_no_one_ · Answer

American tipping system is crazy lol like i tip out of generosity and not bs socio-economic norms.

boobliker · Answer

A tip was left for something they done over the job that was paid for by the employer or something that bit extera.

syncheart · Answer

All this tapping stuff is over my head, and I try to avoid it.

Peta2002 · Answer

Thankfully where I live tipping would be seen as an insult.

Twalli · Answer

They're paid less than minimum wage because they work for tips

Anonymous · Answer

That is mainly an American thing. Most other countries have more respect for their workers.

OddBeMe · Answer

It is…yet comes around about. As restaurants have a lot of shit to deal with.

QuietRunner · Answer

If minimum wage is $16.50 why do I still tip

Lynx--- · Answer

I think so yes.

jimmy2 · Answer

Yes since Pandemic

Has tipping culture gotten out of control? Why should the public be responsible for employers low wages?

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