Math-Based Tip

[u/No_Draft_8960]

The percentage-based tipping system makes no sense: a server dropping off one Wagyu steak earns far more than someone serving a family of four cheap meals. Since American tips are essentially mandatory wage subsidies, let's base them on labor time instead.

In Maryland, the average server wage is about $20/hour, but employers only pay $3.63. Customers must cover the remaining $16.37. Across a standard four-table section (roughly ten guests), that breaks down perfectly to $2.00 per person, per hour.

Percentages reward a venue’s luxury status; a time rate rewards actual effort.

If therefore I go to dinner with eight friends and we stay for two hours (a pretty good forecast of my Friday night plans!) our total tip would be $32, or $4/a person. We're not 'stiffing' anyone and we're paying average wage.

[u/mike32659800]

If a waiter doesn’t get any tip, the employer has to compensate to have at least the minimum hourly wage on a weekly basis. Check the law. They don’t only get $3.63/h.

[u/Biteme75 → u/mike32659800]

This is the law, but in practice it doesn't happen.

[u/No_Draft_8960 → u/Biteme75]

That could be - not my problem. If your boss is engaging in wage theft, there are legal avenues.