I think the wages are very low for majority of folks. Wages need to be around 30$ per hour to come close to the standard of living I had in the early seventies. Everything costs a fortune now days. Rent is just unbelievable, autos are astronomical, and power bill, and phone expenses, and we haven't even gotten to food or medicine. It costs a fortune to live, and then add kids into the equation. I tip but I understand if you can't.

It's a sad system, agreed. About the only way I deal with it is you don't eat out as often. Or go to cafes where you are served at a counter and just seat yourself at a table. At that kind of place, leave 50¢ per person, for the guy wiping tables. They don't provide as much service and they handle a lot of tables, so they make in volume. I don't leave anything at fast food, they are paid at least minimum wage

I tend to cook most of my own stuff (or sammich, or frozen, which is cheaper than eating out), I might go out once or twice a month if I'm buying. But unless service was exceptionally poor, I'm going to leave a decent tip as I've done that kind of work and I know how it is. Just gotta live within my means and figure out what I can do without in exchange for what I want to have.

I absolutely hate tipping, but I do tip. It’s total bullshit. Why do particular businesses not have to pay their employees more than $2/hr and expect the customer to pick up their slack? Hey, capitalism at its finest.

I always round up to the next whole number. Example is if the bill is $15.30, I simply give a $20 and tell the keep the change as a tip.

for whatever reason it is customary for people in the food industry to make a token base pay that is below minimum wage (at least when I was doing it) and to make up the difference with tips. THat is just the way it is. I always tip , it may not be the suggested percentages but I do. If I made to little to tip I would not make it a habit to eat out and save my money

I am not sure about other tipped professions, but waitresses earn a different minimum wage. In Michigan right now I believe it is about 3.10 per hour, the regular minimum is 8.50. They pay income taxes based on the amount of food they serve. If you order food the waitstaff pays income tax based on how much you order. There are movements these days to end tipping because it is unfair and increases sexual harassment or whatever It makes me a little sad because it will just turn that into one more minimum wage restaurant job like the rest.

I have friends that have been servers their entire lives and know a lot about how it works so I always tip well even if the service was less than stellar,

I don't work on Thanksgiving- which I don't celebrate or Christmas but also do not wish to cook so I take my daughter and grand-kids to breakfast and daughter cooks a meal later.

I have always felt torn about this practice because I feel like mothers are missing shit with their children so I tip insanely high on any holiday that I eat out on.

If I go to Golden Corral, I tip 20 bucks. A few years ago my grandchildren peeked at the server as we left and were so happy with the servers reaction that they chip in if they have cash on them.

It feels good and assuages my guilt LOL

I have a friend that gets out a calculator and tips 15% to the penny no matter how the service was.

It is a shame so many livelihoods depend on tips just to meet minimum wage. It would be nice to do away with this practice and pay the staff a living wage Yes the food would be more expensive but it is anyway by the time you pay a tip.

I believe that people should be paid a living wage. However, since restaurant workers are not, and I am comfortable financially, I am happy to tip. I do see how if I made minimum wage, I might not tip or if I did, it might seem unfair to me too.

Waitpersons make, at best HALF of minimum wage Plus pay taxes on what the government ASSUMES they make on tips! Try buying groceries, shelter, a vehicle etc on that........

Iam for a no-tipping policy ONLY if servers are paid a living wage.

I live where tipping is common, even expected, but I am really against tipping. I would rather people just get paid a good wage without having to rely on sporadic tips. Also being against tipping on the grounds that it was basically made in order to take the place of low and non-paid labor after slavery was abolished, it's kind of an interesting read to look up. It was started mainly with freed slaves after the civil war in the US and gained it's current unquestionably status in the great depression.

I live in a country where we do not tip.I tipped a waitress though a few months ago for her amazing service and beautiful smile. She was beside herself because she had been working in this restaurant for 6months and that was the first tip she had ever gotten.
Though while travelling to other countries I do remember to tip.

I do not know if it has changed today, but waiters and waitresses were exempt from the minimum wage laws when I used to be a waiter in the eighties.Waiters and waitresses got less than minimum wage in Florida and the tips were counted as wages. So I tip as well as I can, because I know what it is like to be on your feet carrying food and smile and to to nice to people that sometimes treat you like you are nothing.

I do not tip,as in New Zealand the waiters are generally well paid.

Tipping was instituted in order for employers to avoid paying wages when emancipation of our slave citizens occurred. There are good & bad elements of this system. There is no requirement to tip so there is work sans monetary compensation. Then too it is cash so it can go unreported & thusly un taxed for good or naught. I am a big tipper, 20% & above, as I know what the receiver is up against. I believe in paying it forward & that generousity is its own reward.

If you can't afford to tip, you shouldn't be eating out. Buy food and make your own meal

Based on the preview I thought you were talking about cows!

I give extra to those I think deserve it but not because of its a restaurant but because of what I feel and obviously my available balance.

I frown on it in Oz, it is not part of our culture and we have minimum wages so imagine being on a low wage and then expected to tip someone. I also frown on people giving to beggars, we have a lot of community services and an excellent welfare system. Buskers are different, they are giving a performance. When friends are going to the USA, I explain to them that they pay for the food, the tip is for the wait staff and that such is the way things are done, because wait staff do not get paid like we do here.

I tip, even the hairdresser and in many menial labor.