Tipping culture in U.S.
There are laws in place for service workers related to minimum wage. The employers have to make up the difference if tips don’t meet the rate for hours worked. It seems to me that’s not sufficient for the times.
Hypothetically, if everyone were to stop tipping in the U.S. would things be better or worse for workers? Would employers start paying workers more?
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I went to subway for lunch, and the machine offered 18%, 20%, and 25%
I gave zero because he's doing his job; if I would have sat down and he served my my sandwich on a plate and refilled my drink, I'd have tipped
Yeah. I’m reluctant to tip anywhere that doesn’t offer table service.
This is different. Counter service places do NOT make a tipped wage and so it is actually not necessarily to tip. I tip people who make a tipped wage like servers.
How do you know which employees make a tipped wage? Does it vary by area? (Not American, I don't know)
Counter service gets no tip.
No, it's basically consistent across the US. Servers (waiters and waitresses) and I believe food delivery drivers are paid a tipped wage.
Essentially everyone else is not paid a tipped wage and you should not feel compelled to tip them. Absolutely no one at any counter service restaurants or fast food trucks are paid a tipped wage, even though the computer screen often asks you if you want to tip. There is no need to. I usually tip 0% at these places, but tbh I'm more inclined to tip at a food truck even though it isn't necessary.
Wrong https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped
More states are following.
What about coffee baristas?
Why would they be any different? They don’t work a “tipping wage” and they aren’t bringing your food to your table or refilling drinks.
The only way out of this whole thing is to just never tip counter service, and to never tip really well for waiters. It feels bad, but the whole system is built around exploiting your guilt as a customer. It encourages wait staff to fight for better employment.