International fans visiting the US for the World Cup have become frustrated by the culture of having to tip servers, telling the BBC that tipping fatigue has set in.

Many international fans visiting the US for the World Cup have become frustrated by the culture of tipping servers, telling the BBC that tipping fatigue has set in.

England supporter Geoff Pryor said he understood tipping for good service, but he found it “weird” when buying a bottle of water and “they try to get a tip for doing nothing”.

In the US, staff at some restaurants and bars are paid just over $2 (£1.50) an hour, and they expect customers to tip about 20% of the total cost of the bill so they can earn a living.

Frustrations have also been shared by hospitality staff, with one bar owner telling the BBC that many World Cup tourists have been bad tippers.

    • mechoman444@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 days ago

      Ultimately, you are correct.

      You’re also probably being downvoted by service workers who rely on tips to earn a living.

      That’s the double-edged sword. Almost nobody likes tipping, and most people would prefer a system where workers are simply paid a fair wage. The reality, however, is that tipping currently makes up a substantial portion of the income for millions of people.

      The only way to eliminate tipping is for people to stop participating in the system altogether, forcing businesses to adopt a different compensation model.

      The unfortunate part is that the transition wouldn’t be painless. Until those businesses adapt, a very large number of workers would bear the cost, putting them at a significant financial disadvantage.

      • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
        0·
        2 days ago

        Maybe but their boss appreciates customers handling performance bonuses a lot more.

        And apparently in the US they don’t even have to pay them minimum wage so it’s a win/win for management getting to treat their staff like slaves.

        • irish_link@lemmy.world
          0·
          2 days ago

          Actually no, in most places management DOESNT like it when that happens. If the worker doesn’t get enough tips to make minimum wage they have to pay them that wage.

          Put it this way, if they have only had to pay a worker $20 a night for so long it’s almost part of their budget. If all of a sudden they have to pay double or even triple that (or more depending on the state) they they have to cough up way more money than they want and that eats into their pockets.

          Don’t get me wrong it sucks for the service worker. Now they are making 1/3 or what they usually do or worse. But it’s not a performance review and the boss isn’t happy about it.

          The tipping culture is stupid here and it needs to end, but I would hate to do it on the backs of hard-working people.

          • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
            0·
            1 day ago

            If the worker doesn’t get enough tips to make minimum wage they have to pay them that wage.

            So you can admit that it’s just subsidizing management but still think tipping isn’t to benefit them.

            • irish_link@lemmy.world
              0·
              1 day ago

              So you admit they do have to pay minimum wage? (Clearly a foolish way to make a point)

              Take what is said and don’t change the message. Doing that weakens your argument.

              To your point yes and no. It does NOT subsidize MANAGMENT, if puts money in the pockets of the owner. Clearly you are a fool because you make a point and ignore the specific example that helps your argument. “They don’t like it because they have to then pay the minimum wage.”

              You clearly ignore everything I have said and missed the message. It does not benefit management. It benefits the owner.

              • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
                0·
                1 day ago

                So you admit they do have to pay minimum wage?

                Yes, I took what you said as correct.

                I see management as an arm of the bourgeoisie, not as an ally to the proletariat.

                As such

                . It does not benefit management. It benefits the owner.

                This is a distinction without a difference.

                • irish_link@lemmy.world
                  0·
                  1 day ago

                  Then you are a fool. Managers in these places make about $5 an hour more but do not get tips. Meaning they make less in general and are doing the job of two. Clearly you don’t understand anything about the situation. Stop making an argument you know nothing about because you didn’t even know the rules about minimum wage here.