7 ms·

Why support someone on Patreon? Why tip your waiter?

downerending 6y ago
If there 1000 other waiters who appear to be perfectly thrilled to work without tips, why would I? If someone needs charity, I'd consider it, but I don't care to be "paid" with naked pictures in that case.
- sio8ohPi 6y ago
  But they will work without tips. Nobody is making you tip. Why not just pay for your meal and leave?
  - redis_mlc 6y ago
    For non-US HN readers: In the US, the IRS assumes you make a certain amount in tips if you work in a job that customarily allows tipping. So when a customer doesn't tip, the waiter still has to pay taxes on the money you didn't give them. But wait, it gets worse (this being the US): Some states allow paying waiters less than minimum wage if tipping is customary. As low as $2/hour. So a waiter could actually end up owing more money in taxes than what they made that day. All this, and no health or dental insurance, or pension. I could go on, but you get the idea. Actually, I will go on. Since most states are at-will, you can be fired for any or no reason at any time. But just as common, the restaurant manager will threaten you with reduced hours if you call in sick, or get a customer complaint (ie. "My spaghetti wasn't al dente. What's wrong with that waiter today.") Or if you don't do the manager "favors" (see the Chipotle scandal.) BTW, a couple days ago I was wondering how esperate people would make a living during the extended lockdown. Then I saw the HN submission for OnlyFans ... Welcome to the USA!
    - Jommi 6y ago
      This is completely crazy. Its just one of these absurd Americanisms that we should take a look at during COVID and not continue.
      - heromal 6y ago
        It doesn't even exist right now That guy os full of shit and you know it. If a waiter makes less than min wage, the restaurant makes up for the difference. And guess what? Waitresses like that, because on all but the slowest of nights, you'll make much more than min wage from tips. I swear you people spend more time circlejerking about how shitty America is without knowing anything but the newest Javascript library.
    - esyir 6y ago
      Hold up, if a waiter makes less than minimum wage after tips, the company has to make up the difference. This is a federal labour law, and if treated otherwise, is completely illegal.
      - mydongle 6y ago
        Does your average waiter have the time and energy to devote to suing the local restaurant when it doesn't pay? Most of the time, and as they should, they just go find another job. I would hate to become known as the employee who sues my employer if they don't pay me.
        heromal 6y ago
        Is that really your defense for posting 100% false information? Seriously? Owing more money to the irs than you make, because they "assume" you made minimum wage? You're a dumbass, straight up.
    - heromal 6y ago
      It doesn't even exist right now That guy os full of shit and you know it. If a waiter makes less than min wage, the restaurant makes up for the difference. And guess what? Waitresses like that, because on all but the slowest of nights, you'll make much more than min wage from tips. I swear you people spend more time circlejerking about how shitty America is without knowing anything but the newest Javascript library.
  - wst_ 6y ago
    To be honest this is how it should be. I am customer of the restaurant and waiter is employee of same restaurant. I am not paying tip to clerk in bank, nor to the hairdressers, etc. In Japan tip is not only discouraged but waiters wouldn't even accept one. Why they can do it and we don't?
j-pb 6y ago
Well it's not like we have an army of amateur waiters out there waiting to serve you for free.

If there 1000 other waiters who appear to be perfectly thrilled to work without tips, why would I? If someone needs charity, I'd consider it, but I don't care to be "paid" with naked pictures in that case.

sio8ohPi 6y ago
But they will work without tips. Nobody is making you tip. Why not just pay for your meal and leave?
- redis_mlc 6y ago
  For non-US HN readers: In the US, the IRS assumes you make a certain amount in tips if you work in a job that customarily allows tipping. So when a customer doesn't tip, the waiter still has to pay taxes on the money you didn't give them. But wait, it gets worse (this being the US): Some states allow paying waiters less than minimum wage if tipping is customary. As low as $2/hour. So a waiter could actually end up owing more money in taxes than what they made that day. All this, and no health or dental insurance, or pension. I could go on, but you get the idea. Actually, I will go on. Since most states are at-will, you can be fired for any or no reason at any time. But just as common, the restaurant manager will threaten you with reduced hours if you call in sick, or get a customer complaint (ie. "My spaghetti wasn't al dente. What's wrong with that waiter today.") Or if you don't do the manager "favors" (see the Chipotle scandal.) BTW, a couple days ago I was wondering how esperate people would make a living during the extended lockdown. Then I saw the HN submission for OnlyFans ... Welcome to the USA!
  - Jommi 6y ago
    This is completely crazy. Its just one of these absurd Americanisms that we should take a look at during COVID and not continue.
    - heromal 6y ago
      It doesn't even exist right now That guy os full of shit and you know it. If a waiter makes less than min wage, the restaurant makes up for the difference. And guess what? Waitresses like that, because on all but the slowest of nights, you'll make much more than min wage from tips. I swear you people spend more time circlejerking about how shitty America is without knowing anything but the newest Javascript library.
  - esyir 6y ago
    Hold up, if a waiter makes less than minimum wage after tips, the company has to make up the difference. This is a federal labour law, and if treated otherwise, is completely illegal.
    - mydongle 6y ago
      Does your average waiter have the time and energy to devote to suing the local restaurant when it doesn't pay? Most of the time, and as they should, they just go find another job. I would hate to become known as the employee who sues my employer if they don't pay me.
      - heromal 6y ago
        Is that really your defense for posting 100% false information? Seriously? Owing more money to the irs than you make, because they "assume" you made minimum wage? You're a dumbass, straight up.
  - heromal 6y ago
    It doesn't even exist right now That guy os full of shit and you know it. If a waiter makes less than min wage, the restaurant makes up for the difference. And guess what? Waitresses like that, because on all but the slowest of nights, you'll make much more than min wage from tips. I swear you people spend more time circlejerking about how shitty America is without knowing anything but the newest Javascript library.
- wst_ 6y ago
  To be honest this is how it should be. I am customer of the restaurant and waiter is employee of same restaurant. I am not paying tip to clerk in bank, nor to the hairdressers, etc. In Japan tip is not only discouraged but waiters wouldn't even accept one. Why they can do it and we don't?

j-pb 6y ago

Well it's not like we have an army of amateur waiters out there waiting to serve you for free.