Hey Folks!

I’ve been living abroad for over half my life in a country where tipping is not the norm. At most you would round up. 19€ bill? Here’s a 20, keep this change.

Going to the US soon to visit family and the whole idea of tipping makes me nervous. It seems there’s a lot of discussion about getting rid of tipping, but I don’t know how much has changed in this regard.

The system seems ridiculously unfair, and that extra expense in a country where everything is already so expensive really makes a difference.

So will AITA if I don’t tip? Is it really my personal responsibility to make sure my server is paid enough?

  • Jessica@discuss.tchncs.de
    55·
    1 year ago

    You should take a look at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_US_states_by_minimum_wage and see what the minimum wage is in the state you are visiting. The minimum wage where I am is one of the highest in the nation so I don’t tip anymore.

    Edit: I am aware many states have below federal minimum for tipped employees. My point was if they’re visiting one of the highest states, they can fairly guilt-free forgo tipping. Anything below that, and it requires more finesse. Regardless, I have worked in a state for federal minimum wage as a dishwasher and watched servers make the same wage and bring in hundreds of dollars in tips. They would then tip the head chef $10 and leave nothing for the prep cooks and dishwashers so tipping is inherently flawed, and I still discourage it in most cases. The servers absolutely do not work harder than everyone in the kitchen, but they get all the credit when things run smoothly.

    • iamyourunspokenmind@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      1 year ago

      But a lot of states pay less for tipped labor. Which is why tipping culture started in the first place, and this list doesn’t show how much tipped workers make.

      • itchy_lizard@feddit.it
        32·
        1 year ago

        This. There are a few states that make paying tipped workers less than minimum wage. So you’dnewed to cross-reference that list with the minimum wage list.

        Don’t be an asshole. Your server may be making $3/hr.

        • Jessica@discuss.tchncs.de
          1·
          1 year ago

          I actually just looked into this, and no state in America can legally pay an employee less than $7.25/hr. If you as the employee don’t make enough in tips to make your wage at least $7.25/hr, the employer has to pay beyond the $2.13/hr to make sure you always make at least $7.25/hr, not that $7.25/hr is even remotely a livable wage in 2023…