5 ms·
I don't get tipping in the US. To me the idea of a tip is basically as some sort of recognition of status. It feels like an aristocratic tradition of sorts - a
by throwaway22032 3y ago
I don't get tipping in the US.
To me the idea of a tip is basically as some sort of recognition of status. It feels like an aristocratic tradition of sorts - a recognition that the money is not much to the giver but is to the recipient. At least in proportion to the service rendered.
And it only makes sense for like, kind of personal favours with some sort of emotional connection where the person goes above and beyond.
When it comes to just like, literally giving money for everything ever, like buying a coffee, it just seems bizarre. If you're on the same level as someone else then tipping just seems weird.
- masklinn 3y agoProblematically the concept of “tipped wage” (and consequently tipped workers) is a legal one in the US.
- JoshTriplett 3y agoThat's exactly what people are typically complaining about they complain about tipping culture. People don't complain about having the option of tipping for above-and-beyond service; people complain about having a universal expectation of tipping for all service.
- meepmorp 3y agoThe US generally allows waitstaff in restaurants to be paid below minimum wage, with the expectation that they'll earn the balance in tips.
- zerocrates 3y agoThe way this works, assuming everyone is following the law, is weird. Generally how it works is that the employee must make at least the normal minimum wage when including tips, and if they don't the employer has to make up the shortfall. So all tips that represent the difference between an employee's base wage and the minimum, those are basically going into the employer's pocket first, and only represent actually increased compensation for the employee once they get over the minimum.
- paulmd 3y agoAlso, while that's generally the rule, if you pester your employer to cover the tips, you're going to be fired/hours reduced. It's wildly easy to retaliate and arguably the employer can even justify the retaliation on "you're underperforming/if you can't make min wage we have too many waiters during those hours".
- zerocrates 3y agoYeah I considered adding that "following the law" is quite the assumption. My understanding is that this form of wage theft, minimum violation, whatever, is pretty widespread.
- seanmcdirmid 3y agoThe US allows that federally, but in Washington state, where I live, servers must be paid minimum wage at least (which is $18.69/hour here in Seattle), any tip is extra.
- amanaplanacanal 3y agoSame in Oregon, though our minimum wage is quite a bit lower. Looks like the states that don’t allow tip credits against minimum wage are Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
- meepmorp 3y agoAnd that's how it should be, imo.
- JohnFen 3y ago> I don't get tipping in the US. It used to be a gift, a special thank you for service above and beyond. Then it became expected for certain jobs (in large part because of a change in US tax policy). Now it seems to be expected for everything. Employers use it to supplement wages, which in my view turns it into a kind of extortion.