I’m for everything.
I want them to be tipped.
But I also think minimum wage is minimum wage.
One shouldn’t be penalized in salary/hourly because they have a good “bonus” program.
But I get it - if the economics changed because of a higher wage, it’d be worse.
But I want servers to have their cake and eat it too - even if my meal goes up a $$ to ensure they earn the pay.
I actually meant the comment about Those that work for tips are likely to spend their $$$ right away.
Well, nothing actually stops you from tipping anyone at any time. If their salary increases and tips go away, you could still tip.
So many who work for tips are living paycheck to paycheck, so what they receive they will spend pretty quickly.
For the economy as a whole money spent helps more than money saved and just put in the bank or invested. It is exponential.
True. But a good portion of restaurant servers are college students or to be college students who are pocketing that income for tuition or housing. So similar to banking it.
I don’t see tips going away no matter what one earns. People in CA still tip.
And people will still not serve you nicely or spit in your food (do they really do that??) - if you don’t tip and come back.
Someone made a comment yesterday on here upthread - what used to be 10 went to 15 and now 20 - and heck some tip menus use 20 as the low # - so I get that too - why has it changed.
But it’s a societal norm and expected by folks who earn their living this way - so I will continue to tip - you’re correct - because that’s part of the invisible contract you sign walking in (to a sit down).
Interestingly a counter place by me has no tip jar and when they give you the CC slip - there’s no tip line.
I like that place - I have no discomfort there.
It’s counter - but they do bring your food - and clear your dishes - but don’t do drinks - that’s self service - which I prefer - so I can always keep my tea glass full.
Oh well - it’s an interesting thread and what we’ve seen is many people think differently. and I suppose if everyone is happy - then that’s great.
34% of waitstaff are enrolled in college. Of course some of that income is being used for living expenses. Even if they are using some of it for tuition it is still being spent pretty quickly. Still much better for the economy with the money being spent rather than invested.
Maybe I wasn’t clear. I don’t think entering a restaurant is a contract to provide a 20% tip. It may have become a “social convention” but it is not a contract. I still do tip at sit down restaurants, usually 15-18%. I refuse to tip anywhere I am expected to clear my own table. If I order and pick it up I may tip 10% if they clear the tables.
In every state that borders the Pacific Ocean servers make full minimum wage at least, which ranges from 11.75 in Alaska (though I’d be surprised if servers aren’t getting more than that) to $16.25 in Washington plus tips. No one is having to average pay over their shift to make their base salary.
Please don’t paint all charities with a broad brush. Charity Navigator and Guidestar are two websites that rate charities and disclose what percentage goes to the cause. I’m on the board for a couple of organizations that 100% goes to fulfilling the mission (no paid employees).
I do worry about tips not getting to the back of the house, where it’s arguably needed the most.
As a member of the market, you can vote with your wallet. As can the rest of us.
I am still tipping 20% or more at sit down restaurants, but I’m cutting back on tips for coffee shop and bakery kinds of places.
I don’t generally tip people who come to do work on our house, and I certainly don’t tip 20%. We recently had some work done, and I was actually surprised that when I paid the bill on-line there was a place requesting a tip. I said 0. We did give the workers a small tip when they were here.
Yesterday, I didn’t tip. I actually had to GO to a pizza place and wait for them to make my carry out pizza because someone had not put the phone back in the charger the right way. Luckily I went…heaven knows how many others tried to call, and just called elsewhere.
I wanted to call before I left my house, and couldn’t. So…I waited.
No tip.
Ordered barbecue online to be picked up. The tip options were 18% 20% and 22%. Or none.
Guess which one I picked? 
D2 and I ran to the mall at lunchtime yesterday to return some items. We decided to get a quick late lunch at Shake Shack while we were there. We walked in and went to order when an employee cleaning tables told us to order at the self service kiosks. You can bet that when it asked for a tip I gave $0. I had to do everything except make my food so to me that is not worthy of a tip!
I had lunch with a friend who is in her late 70s. She said she had put in a custom tip for a pick up order (just a buck or two) and her husband was so shocked she could do that. He’s thought you had to pick one of the options on the IPad.
I’m sure that is quite common.
The Daily yesterday about tipping
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/podcasts/the-daily/tipping-trump-harris.html
Dinner out with 10 friends last night. We ate in a back room; 20% gratuity for the server was added to each of our bills. No problem as we were aware ahead of time and would have tipped that amount or 25% anyway. However it also had the wording “additional tip” of 18 or 20 or 25% tip. Dinner was good, waiter was great but tipping up to 45% on dinner … I can’t even … Restaurant was casual; shorts acceptable.
I picked up a snack the other day and felt guilty as I deliberately had to go to the custom tip screen and put zero. It’s just embarrassing for everyone.