Here in WA state, the minimum wage per hour is $15.74 (higher in some areas). Tipping culture says 20%, but that’s generally to support lower paid waitstaff in areas that can pay less than minimum wage by employers. Where/What are you tipping and what kind of service would you expect for a 20% tip?
I don’t tip. If they exploit their workers in any way, then I just don’t support that business. I vote for better labour laws instead.
Unfortunately, until laws like that pass, it doesn’t put money in my bank account. I opt to do both until then. No need to punish workers for something they can’t always help.
It’s really not helpful to accuse non-tippers of punishing staff. When that happens, the real exploiter gets away.
Shall I get you a stool so you can get off your horse?
That is exactly what you are doing, punishing staff. They may not have the choice to have their job and all you do by not tipping them is punish them for your high ideals. Don’t like tipping? Sure, that’s fine. Want to vote for laws that get rid of it? Hell yeah the more people voting the better. But not tipping just so you can justify your your ideals and only hurt the real victim here? Asshole. Want to really hurt the real perpetrator? Don’t fucking go to a place that has tipping in the first place.
chill out a bit, man
In Seattle, the minimum wage will be $19.97/hr with no difference for tipped staff. What would you tip in that situation?
McDonald’s has been paying $22 an hour for years on the Eastside. Workers actually get pretty good pay around Seattle. It still doesn’t go very far though, because housing is fucking ridiculous.
I don’t know about the U.S. If the pay or work conditions seem exploitative (incl. taking cost of living into account), then I don’t support that exploitation by going there.
Tipping is bizarre to me and and still not divorced from its ugly origins in Europe and U.S. Not many industries can say “hey, we treat our staff terribly, but you can make up for it if it bothers you that much” and maintain clientele. But for the hospitality industry, they haven’t moved on from exploitation and we’re complicit by entertaining them.
https://www.povertylaw.org/article/the-racist-history-behind-americas-tipping-culture/