Goo_bubbs

This reminds me of my life.

Just curious, are you using DDNS or do you have a static IP?

Once again, you're not fighting corporations, owners, "the man", etc. You're hurting workers.

That is true. I'm really only talking about America in this context.

You're the one who's convinced himself that he's justified in forcing people to work without pay, because you've decided it shouldn't be the way it really is. In other words, a real (entitled) goddamn asshole. If there's a hell, I sincerely hope that you end up in it, being forced to work for free every day for eternity. It's what you've done to others, so you've fucking earned it.

Until the shareholders demand more.

I basically agree with your point of view, but the fact of the matter is that the way servers are paid is an exception to the rule. It's unlike other businesses, and even on a federal level the wage laws are different specifically for servers.

It's an issue that's a lot more complex to solve than just stiffing your server and saying, "I've done my part to fix things!"

Do you work for free? What if someone came to the place where you work and demanded that you work for them for free? Because that's exactly what you're doing to servers in America if you aren't tipping them, and I can assure you that no one on the planet wants to work without pay. It is not a personal opinion, it's an objective fact.

Also, I'd like to point out the hilarious irony of you making a blanket statement about all Americans by claiming that's what Americans do. The projection is palpable.

I was never trying to justify the arrangement where the employer doesn't pay the employee. However, the reality of the situation is that it doesn't happen that way. In the U.S., at least, servers make their living almost exclusively by being tipped. Yeah, it's shitty of employers not to offer a better wage, but it's equally shitty for people to go to restaurants--fully aware that servers need tips to make ends meet--without tipping servers.

Why am I not surprised with your total lack of empathy?

If you don't like tipping and actually believe that people should be paid for the work they do, then don't eat at restaurants. Show those restaurant owners why they should pay people, and be the change you want to see in the world. Otherwise, you're just an asshole.

I worked in fine dining for 10 years. So no, it's not presumptuous of me because I am speaking from personal experience based on my own life as well as many, many people I have known. I'd say that I'm one of the least presumptuous people in this thread when it comes to this topic.

It would be great if employers would pay servers a living wage, but that simply isn't the way things actually work in restaurants.

Personal responsibility? Handouts??! Tell you what, how about you go to work for 8 hours every day and then have your business's clients decide whether or not you deserve any money at all for the work you do. Would you say you're just asking for a handout, or would you say that you deserve to be paid for the work you did?

It's really a cultural problem, and there's no easy solution. I certainly don't know how to fix it. I think it would require everyone not tipping or every server everywhere demanding a higher wage.

Honestly, I hate tipping as much as the next guy. If I decide to tip someone I should be able to feel good about it, like I'm giving them a bonus, rather than feeling guilt-tripped or obligated to do it.

Unfortunately, the system is just set up in a way that sucks for both customers and employees, and the only way you can eat in a nice restaurant and not be an asshole is by tipping your server.