I don't think it's as common any more, but for many years a lot of states had "tip credit" laws (which were strongly supported/lobbied for by the restaurant ind

I don't think it's as common any more, but for many years a lot of states had "tip credit" laws (which were strongly supported/lobbied for by the restaurant industry) that allowed companies to pay tipped employees less than minimum wage with the assumption that they made up the difference in tips.