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Visiting the US soon - do I really have to tip? (feddit.de)

submitted 1 year ago by kilgore@feddit.de to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Hey Folks!

I've been living abroad for over half my life in a country where tipping is not the norm. At most you would round up. 19€ bill? Here's a 20, keep this change.

Going to the US soon to visit family and the whole idea of tipping makes me nervous. It seems there's a lot of discussion about getting rid of tipping, but I don't know how much has changed in this regard.

The system seems ridiculously unfair, and that extra expense in a country where everything is already so expensive really makes a difference.

So will AITA if I don't tip? Is it really my personal responsibility to make sure my server is paid enough?

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[-] anthr76@lemmy.kutara.io 23 points 1 year ago

Yes in the service industry where you will be served you very much likely would be expected to tip. So places may make this more obvious then others with a tip bracket on the receipt or signs somewhere.

Its also important to note most places in the US expect a 15% tip of what you spent but in some higher dense areas where the CoL is out of control it’s 20%

[-] EyesEyesBaby@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Do waiters actually get paid? Like an hourly wage? Or do they rely fully on the tips?

[-] feidry@midwest.social 19 points 1 year ago

The federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13/hr. Basically nothing. It wouldn't cover your gas cost to go to work in most cases.

[-] EyesEyesBaby@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Wtf. US at it's peak. At my first job, when I was 14 y/o, I made more than that (€2.72) doing restocking at a supermarket.

[-] sideone@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

As far as I understand it, US servers prefer the current system as they make more money from tips. Personally, if you prefer this system I think you don't have any right to complain or get upset if someone doesn't tip.

[-] kilgore@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago

It really is absurd.

[-] funchords@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Wtf. US at it’s peak. At my first job, when I was 14 y/o, I made more than that (€2.72) doing restocking at a supermarket.

Supermarket stockers are not tipped so a higher minimum wage applies, which is $7.25 right now. However, laborers are also in high demand so most places pay more than the minimum.

[-] Stumblinbear@pawb.social 7 points 1 year ago

If their tips don't pass the actual minimum wage, the employer is required to pay the difference up to the minimum.

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this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023

259 points (97.1% liked)

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