I’ve always been an advocate for tipping and tipping well if the service deems it. I think about the people out there making a minimum hourly wage, hustling to pay the bills, and making a better life for themselves. I never thought much about a 20 percent tip and 25 percent for excellent service.
But have you noticed there is an ask for a tip everywhere you go lately?
It seems to have gotten worse since the pandemic. The other day I noticed a tip jar in the mechanic shop while I waited for my oil change. Since when did we tip for oil changes? Is it just there in case someone wants to drop some coin in there? If not, nothing is lost and nothing is gained.
I was someone who enabled this culture. Put a tip jar in front of me and you’ll probably get a tip. There was and still is this guilt that runs over me.
What started as one conversation and one restaurant visit, turned into several conversations that led me to research the subject of tipping. Rather than just taking the words and opinions of those around me. I was taken aback by what I found and I think most people would be as well.
Tipping History Summed Up
It was first written about during feudalism times in Europe in the 1600s. It remains in practice there until the late 1800’s at that point the US picks up the concept of tipping after the Civil War. At that time Americans began to travel and immigration began to surge bringing the custom with the immigrants. Slavery ended, leaving millions of freed black people to find jobs anywhere they could. Many found jobs in the restaurants which the restaurant owners took advantage of by expecting the new servers to make their living from the new tip system. Then came the “Pullman Car Company” which only hired Southern black men because the plantations more or less trained them to please customers according to Pullman himself. They were paid $27.50 a month plus tips, which is equivalent to $842 today. Hardly a liveable wage.
Early in the US’s story of tipping it was seen as anti-democratic and offensively un-American. Many movements were trying to stop its spread, including future President William Taft who acted in defense of the anti-tipping crusade. Much of the feelings around tipping seemed to have racist connotations as it was expected for negro to accept a tip because they were inferior but it was socially unacceptable to tip a white man. The launch of the “New Deal” left behind the restaurant workers in required a $0.25/hr minimum wage setting the stage for them to continue to depend on tips.
Intro the Tip Credit
Then in 1966, Congress created the “Tip Credit” which only required employers to pay employees a sub-minimum wage of about 50% of the standard minimum wage. The idea is that tips would make up the rest of the minimum wage standard. This sub-minimum wage would trend with the standard minimum wage until the ‘90s. In 1996, advocated for and lobbied by the president of “The Other NRA” National Restaurant Association, Herman Cain helped set the path so that the two wages would decouple. The tipped minimum wage has remained frozen at $2.13/hr since then. Meanwhile, the standard minimum has increased, though some argue not nearly enough.
Each state can have its own minimum wage requirements but that subject is beyond the scope of this post.
Where the Knowledge Took Me
Once I learned more about the subject of tipping I began to pay attention to how restaurants paid their employees. Additionally, I took notice of mandatory tips automatically tacked on bills or customer service charges. One local restaurant was hiring an equivalent of a server, a food runner. Because more restaurants are moving towards QR code ordering it eliminates the the need for a traditional server but someone is still needed to bring you your order, the starting wage is $17 – $21/hr. This same restaurant has a 10% minimum tip requirement added to every bill. This is where I begin to hear a lot of frustration from my fellow patrons. Some of which tipped on top of the mandatory without realizing it.
Not all restaurants or coffee shops are paying that well. There are so many inconsistencies from one place to the next, including franchised chains like coffee shops. To patronize a restaurant that pays their employees a fair and livable wage it will require some research.
Follow Your Curiosity
You will not be able to follow your curiosity on every subject that pops up. But we can take on the ones that excite us the most. And perhaps it is not to the same level or depth each time. Start with a couple of articles or a podcast or two on the subject. If you are really passionate about the subject read a book or two. But don’t just read a book to support your opinion. Read something you might typically disagree with. Try to understand where they may be coming from, and listen with to intent to understand. You don’t have to listen to change your mind. If your opinion, faith, and story are truly strong then some book that disagrees is not going to change that.
Write down your questions. Disagree if you want to. Debate with others in a healthy way.
When this topic of tipping came up it sparked my curiosity. Since I’ve done the research I feel confident in my decision to tip or not to tip. I understand the restaurant business a bit better and which ones I want to support. I’ve also discovered this is a very hot topic for many people. I was surprised to hear the passion in people’s voices when this subject was brought up. Since the first conversation that piqued my interest, it has come up organically at least four other times.
Instead of just hearing the opinion of another person or reading a Facebook post do your own research.
Be curious. Question everything. Listen with the intent to understand.
Source and Inspiration: NPR Throughline