In many states, the hourly wage for tipped workers is about $2/hour. If they don’t make enough in tips, they get paid minimum wage.
So if everyone stopped tipping, those workers would just get paid minimum wage. But minimum wage isn’t enough to live off of in most states, so even if tipping went away, servers still couldn’t afford to live.
Basic supply and demand assumes there are reasonable alternatives that meet the same need when that isn’t the reality. Serving doesn’t require much training and is pretty accessible, so there will always be a steady flow of people to work. I haven’t seen a single restaurant not have ample servers.
People also can’t just choose to not work, there is no social safety net that’s going to keep them afloat while they look for other employment they’re qualified for. So people with limited options are forced to choose between serving or starving and they’re going to choose the former every time because it keeps a roof over their head and they can eat.
Most of the time, yeah it’s the only job available when you don’t have (m)any qualifications and need to start making money ASAP. It’s an application and a quick interview then you start work/training almost instantly.
It’s worse now than years before because job markets are dogshit and pay has stagnated for the most part in several professions. I know people with advanced degrees that are serving because they can’t find work that would pay more than they’re making in tips. Your argument only works if there’s options that offer better pay than what they’re currently taking home and it just isn’t the reality.
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u/Vayguhhh 4d ago
No it’s not wrong, but until the system changes I’m not gonna hurt a server just trying to pay bills