this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023
237 points (97.2% liked)

Asklemmy

43945 readers
638 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy πŸ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Jessica@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

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.

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.

[–] underscores@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Most states in the US have separate lower minimum wages for tipped workers, with a federal minimum of $2.13/hour.

[–] itchy_lizard@feddit.it 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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…

[–] itchy_lizard@feddit.it 1 points 1 year ago

Sorry, that's not the case. I guess you don't have any friends who work as wait staff..

[–] SilentStorms@lemmy.fmhy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Highest in the nation is still far too low.