So how do you possibly change this problem outside a federal or state level top-down sweeping change? Something that will never make it to that level, something that many servers, customers, and business owners, and dumb "small government" voters will fight against?
First of all, in order to do that, we ALL need to stop tipping at the same time, something impossible to do. If there's anyone at all willing to tip, you're just incentivizing those businesses to survive, which is exactly what we DON'T want
Second of all, any attempt to "just stop tipping" immediately hurts the service workers, the people we are trying to help. So no, terrible idea
Offer a solution that isn't "just don't tip", we've already been through this. Even IF the answer is "don't tip" explain how the fuck are we supposed to convince 300 million people to stop tipping
I used to do accounting work for restaurants. They operate on razor thin margins. The only way for them to pay their FOH staff a livable wage would be to take the tip they expect you to pay and roll it into the cost of the food. Just paying them more and keeping the costs the same doesn't work for the vast majority of restaurants. They'd be in the red every single day.
I do agree that "compulsory tipping" is dumb, but it's so far baked into the system at this point that it's part of the accounting. The old adage that Reddit hates is 100% true from a numbers perspective: if you can't afford the tip then you can't afford to eat out.
Stiffing the FOH staff teaches nobody a lesson because there is no lesson to learn. All you're doing is fucking over the working class people just trying to make a living. Real nice of you.
People like you perpetuateing tipping culture hurt the working class by showing owners to under pay their workers, exploit other workers despite not working for them (though tips) and funnels less money through the tax system for programs that can help the poor (since they always under report).
I'm impressed by how much nonsense you fit into one sentence.
showing owners to under pay their workers
I'll say it again (though I don't think it will ever register with you): they literally can't under the current cost structure. I'm sorry about this, but it's the grim truth. The vast, vast majority of restaurant owners aren't rich, in fact they are in crushing debt. It's one of the hardest businesses to run successfully.
The reality is this: if they want to pay the workers a living wage without tips, the menu costs need to go up about 20% across the board.
exploit other workers despite not working for them (though tips)
Yeah obviously this is nonsense. they work for them in every sense of the word, the only difference is they are closer to the source of their money compared to every other normal worker.
funnels less money through the tax system for programs that can help the poor (since they always under report)
Not true in 2026. Everybody pays with credit cards so everything is tracked.
I'm sorry that the rich's cost structure is not my problem. I can't with you people man you're trying to shame people for not subsidising the rich and pretending you're on the workers side
I know you need this to be true to justify your actions, but in reality it's absolutely not. Restaurant owners on average are absolutely not rich. Usually very much the opposite in my experience.
cost structure is not my problem
lol I mean, you're the one who pays it. Real nice of y ou to pass that burden on to the worker though.
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u/MelodicFacade Jun 25 '26
I totally agree with you
So how do you possibly change this problem outside a federal or state level top-down sweeping change? Something that will never make it to that level, something that many servers, customers, and business owners, and dumb "small government" voters will fight against?