That servers love tip outs today doesn't necessarily mean it's an absolutely good model, or that they will be grateful for it in say 20 years when they can no l

That servers love tip outs today doesn't necessarily mean it's an absolutely good model, or that they will be grateful for it in say 20 years when they can no longer succeed in these types of jobs. I'm not claiming it should never be a thing. I just wonder if we should collectively accept it and want it to be part of our economy and how our communities function. I have had many friends who do well as servers (and indeed, one earning more than I did was a junior SWE), but it doesn't seem typical, nor does it seem sustainable. The restaurant industry certainly can't be responsible for fixing any issues with this; it's a symptom of something greater. I just don't think we should accept it as okay. Primarily due to the variability of tipping... I will always need to pay enough to cover the cost of the food and kitchen, so the restaurant is okay. But how can I be certain that the person serving me is taken care of? My individual tip isn't enough, and I know many servers do terribly depending on time and location. I've worked shitty jobs, but I always got paid the same amount by my employer and there were legal frameworks to protect me. Servers don't get the same from us, and I don't think that's alright. We can point to when it works out well for servers, but again, I don't think that's typical.