Only seven states currently bar “subminimum” pay for tipped workers like bartenders and restaurant servers, but activists see 2024 as ripe to expand the tally to as many as 20.
Are you really arguing about this from a device produced within a system where people in sweatshops get paid far less than servers and without even any possibility of tips?
No, friend, we all know that the system right now is unethical. We all struggle to do what we can with what we have. The only reasonable solution to me is to consume as little as possible, repair things and buy things second hand.
And I’m not buying any of the servers labor, I’m buying a cheeseburger.
Either you are:
Buying your cheeseburger at a fast food place, where a server’s labor isn’t required. I’m not talking about this.
Using a server’s labor (taking your order, busing your plates, refilling your drinks, taking up a table in the server’s section that prevents someone else from being seated who may require more work). Then, if you choose not to tip, you’re deciding the server makes “enough” for their efforts. Best case scenerio, you are freeloading off other patron’s tips.
I am currently a tipped employee (not in the restaurant industry. I work at a casino. Edit: My situation is totally different, my job is dumb and I’m part of a tip pool.). I’ll say it here: The system is bad and tipping shouldn’t exist. Ugly people and racial minorities make less money from tips than traditionally attractive, neurotypical white people. It’s a bad system, full stop. This doesn’t mean you should just decide to not tip if you go to a restaurant that employees servers for 2.13 + tips. The most ethical choice is to not patronize that restaurant. If you do anyway (as we all do, living is pain), you should tip. Not tipping isn’t going to change anything. It’s just make life worse temporarily for that server, who might be agonizing what they did to piss you off.
I’m more than happy to not patronize the restaurant if I find the total price is unreasonable and I’m not willing to pay it. Unfortunately, I am only able to do so if someone tells me the total price of the cheeseburger. Why are you so unwilling? This is the third time I’ve tried to get an answer now.
And I honestly don’t think I’ve ever in my life been to a restaurant where the server made $2.13 or lower, but I have no way of knowing that with certainty. In any case, I’d rather not participate in a system that ‘is bad and shouldn’t exist’ and as you pointed out is discriminatory/racist. And since it’s completely optional, the most ethical option for me to take seems the only one that does not encourage the system at all.
But hey, you might just be morally superior to me. Casinos, after all, provide an important and definitely non-exploitative service to society. And those ‘customers’ definitely owe you a tip.
Why are you so unwilling? This is the third time I’ve tried to get an answer now.
Apparently I haven’t been clear: Tipping is a bad system. It should be abolished. Employee wages should be priced into the menu. I have lived overseas where this was the case, it works fine.
You are misunderstanding: I am saying that while this is the system here in America, you should either tip, or not go to restaurants where tipping is expected. I am not arguing that the system is good, I am arguing your response to the system is bad. It seems you have encountered a bad thing and you are using it’s badness to justify other bad behavior.
And I honestly don’t think I’ve ever in my life been to a restaurant where the server made $2.13 or lower
You have. Trust me. This is how restaurants operate in the USA (edit: no server should be taking home less than minimum wage, restaurants are required to make up the difference in tip shortfall. Minimum wage is too low in all states. Failure to follow tip credit laws is one of the #1 sources of wage theft). They might not get away with exactly 2.13 any more, but the majority of restaurants here in the USA pay less than minimum wage. I work at a casino, and the dealers are paid less than minimum wage by the casino (they start around $5/hr). Google the phrase “tip credit” for more info.
Casinos, after all, provide an important and definitely non-exploitative service to society.
Somehow I’ve managed to find a way to make a living wage, thus my argument is invalid.
I am tipped, if I made less I would quit, because my job is pretty bullshit and is unfulfilling, you got me. I’m also going to college part time so I can get out of this situation.
It’s a shame. If I quit, the casino would surely close, it’s all my fault it’s around. Sorry folks :(
No, friend, we all know that the system right now is unethical. We all struggle to do what we can with what we have. The only reasonable solution to me is to consume as little as possible, repair things and buy things second hand.
Either you are:
Buying your cheeseburger at a fast food place, where a server’s labor isn’t required. I’m not talking about this.
Using a server’s labor (taking your order, busing your plates, refilling your drinks, taking up a table in the server’s section that prevents someone else from being seated who may require more work). Then, if you choose not to tip, you’re deciding the server makes “enough” for their efforts. Best case scenerio, you are freeloading off other patron’s tips.
I am currently a tipped employee (not in the restaurant industry. I work at a casino. Edit: My situation is totally different, my job is dumb and I’m part of a tip pool.). I’ll say it here: The system is bad and tipping shouldn’t exist. Ugly people and racial minorities make less money from tips than traditionally attractive, neurotypical white people. It’s a bad system, full stop. This doesn’t mean you should just decide to not tip if you go to a restaurant that employees servers for 2.13 + tips. The most ethical choice is to not patronize that restaurant. If you do anyway (as we all do, living is pain), you should tip. Not tipping isn’t going to change anything. It’s just make life worse temporarily for that server, who might be agonizing what they did to piss you off.
I’m more than happy to not patronize the restaurant if I find the total price is unreasonable and I’m not willing to pay it. Unfortunately, I am only able to do so if someone tells me the total price of the cheeseburger. Why are you so unwilling? This is the third time I’ve tried to get an answer now.
And I honestly don’t think I’ve ever in my life been to a restaurant where the server made $2.13 or lower, but I have no way of knowing that with certainty. In any case, I’d rather not participate in a system that ‘is bad and shouldn’t exist’ and as you pointed out is discriminatory/racist. And since it’s completely optional, the most ethical option for me to take seems the only one that does not encourage the system at all.
But hey, you might just be morally superior to me. Casinos, after all, provide an important and definitely non-exploitative service to society. And those ‘customers’ definitely owe you a tip.
Apparently I haven’t been clear: Tipping is a bad system. It should be abolished. Employee wages should be priced into the menu. I have lived overseas where this was the case, it works fine.
You are misunderstanding: I am saying that while this is the system here in America, you should either tip, or not go to restaurants where tipping is expected. I am not arguing that the system is good, I am arguing your response to the system is bad. It seems you have encountered a bad thing and you are using it’s badness to justify other bad behavior.
You have. Trust me. This is how restaurants operate in the USA (edit: no server should be taking home less than minimum wage, restaurants are required to make up the difference in tip shortfall. Minimum wage is too low in all states. Failure to follow tip credit laws is one of the #1 sources of wage theft). They might not get away with exactly 2.13 any more, but the majority of restaurants here in the USA pay less than minimum wage. I work at a casino, and the dealers are paid less than minimum wage by the casino (they start around $5/hr). Google the phrase “tip credit” for more info.
Somehow I’ve managed to find a way to make a living wage, thus my argument is invalid.
I am tipped, if I made less I would quit, because my job is pretty bullshit and is unfulfilling, you got me. I’m also going to college part time so I can get out of this situation.
It’s a shame. If I quit, the casino would surely close, it’s all my fault it’s around. Sorry folks :(