Tipping culture
ThoughtsJohn Gruber explains how to tip, something I had to figure out when I was working in San Francisco for a couple of months. But then he ended with this Dickensian paragraph:
This whole thing is U.S.-centric, of course, but let me add that while I understand how strange U.S. tipping culture must seem to someone from another country, it’s not complicated [..]
Not complicated for the tipper, or for the staff who have to divvy up the scraps every night rather than just being paid a living wage?
[..] and in my experience, typical service in U.S. restaurants is far better than in other countries.
In my experience, no.
Fundamentally I think the basic idea works, insofar as it incentivizes superior service.
No, it fundamentally entrenches poor working conditions.
Japan easily has the world’s best service, and tipping there is a insult. Why? Because it signals to the restaurant owner that they don’t pay their workers enough. Funny that.
I tip when I’m in the US, because people depend on it. But don’t try to coat [the system] with a layer of frosting and tell me it’s a fucking cupcake.
