clittylicker's blog post - Tipping in the US

Almost every day now, I see a story on Facebook or in the news "shaming" people who don't tip or leave a very small tip for the wait staff in US restaurants.

In almost all the countries I have visited, a tip is given by a customer for superior, or "above & beyond" service, not to somebody who merely does their job (often not very well or with a surly or downright objectionable attitude).

I realise the reason for this rather unusual attitude to tipping is that the staff are often not paid a "living wage" by their employers, but surely that is the solution - mandate a minimum wage and enforce it, not expect customers to make up the shortfall. While doing this MAY require a rise in prices in some establishments, at least customers would know what they are buying and what they are paying for it instead of the current robbery by stealth.

OK, rant over.