Tipping in the U.S.A.

Tip /tip/ a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services.

 

1. Who bamboozled people in the service industry into thinking they could count on unguaranteed, unpredictable and unstable tips as a means of income instead of (not in addition to…but instead of) a legal hourly wage?
2. At what point in history did employers feel like they had the right to know and discuss your tips and then manipulate your hourly wage based on what THEY think you can POTENTIALLY make (in tips)?
3. The very fact that you were chosen to be an employee means you seem capable to do the work and BY LAW, you should be PAID (at least) minimum wage. IF you happen to be a stellar performer at your job and are rewarded with tips by appreciative customers, whatever money you make should have never been and should never be a topic of discussion between the employee and employer in the first place. Your tips are YOUR tips! If anything, shouldn’t the EMPLOYER be rewarding you as well? Because satisfied customers are often repeat customers.
4.  Why do some people in the service industry assume that they SHOULD be tipped just because they work in the service industry?
5.  Tipping can easily be seen as another form of greed. Nice things use to be done as a common, human courtesy…and being courteous was free. Now people want to be rewarded extra for just showing up!
6. Why is tipping prevalent, expected and sometimes demanded in the service industry more than others? When I worked at a retail store (bull’s eye) and I stood on my feet for hours, I was a cashier, I stocked shelves, had to put together bicycles, lawnmowers and Christmas trees. I cleaned, dusted, lifted heavy boxes, priced product, cleaned up vomit and coffee spills, rocked crying babies, got cussed out when sale products were not in stock on the very first day of the sale, and had to be at a customer’s beck and call with a smile on my face and a pleasant demeanor. NEVER GOT A (monetary) TIP!