Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may have already been addressed, but in restaurants, why is it expected to pay a certain percentage on the price of the meal? If I purchase a $40 entree verses a $20 entree, it’s no more work for the server to bring it to my table. Same goes for ordering an expensive bottle of wine vs cheaper.

So if you’re only going to pay $5 tip on your $40 entree, do you also pay $5 tip on your $10 sandwich? After all, it’s the same amount of work for the server to bring both to your table. If not, if your tipping practices only favor *your* wallet, then you are a hypocrite.

You have a point
Or you could look at how busy the restaurant is, how many tables is your server doing.
Then look at how long you occupy a table.
The current tipping method with not guarantee a living wage if you sit down for a $7 bowl of soup and drink water and order a kiddie macaroni for your kid
Perhaps a set amount would make sense

Anonymous wrote:Why does a living wage work in countries in Europe where there is no tipping?

National healthcare for one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We tried that with Prop 77 and the city council overruled it.

If the tipping culture annoys you, patronize businesses that pay their employees a living wage and provide benefits and make tipping optional, as it should be. The problem is that so many jobs don't pay enough to live on employers expect customers to make up the difference.

Define living wage.

My in-laws have an ice cream shop. How much do you think your ice cream should cost so they can pay $20 an hour or so? Their profit margin is already very slim. All of their employees are high school aged or in college. They don’t have trouble keeping employees but none of the employees expect to live off their salaries.

The people who do live on those salaries receive section 8 housing vouchers, medical insurance through Medicaid, tax funded support for utility bills and food stamps, child care vouchers and free meals at school.
Living wage is when the salary no longer qualifies them for aid.

If your in laws cannot afford staff, they shouldn't be in business. I cannot afford a nanny, therefore I do not employ a nanny. Just because I could afford one if the salary was low, doesn't mean I should have one.