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.

  • Fluke@feddit.uk
    8·
    2 days ago

    It’s been pointed out to me a few times recently that a lot of hospitality staff don’t actually want the system to change as they usually don’t declare their full income from the tips to the taxman.

    If they unionise and change things, their whole income becomes taxable, and they feel that they lose.

    This seriously undermines the sympathy I have for the staff as a group. The tools for change are right there, but there are enough bootlickers and foolish individualists to poison any attempt at change short of a general strike. (I’m under no illusions as to the inevitable violent government response to such a thing either.)

    Ultimately it comes down to; “Either change your system with group action, like everywhere else did, or keep whining about getting stiffed, your choice.”

    • Azal@pawb.socialEnglish
      2·
      17 hours ago

      It’s been pointed out to me a few times recently that a lot of hospitality staff don’t actually want the system to change as they usually don’t declare their full income from the tips to the taxman.

      While this is true amongst some, it’s again that minority that finds the really nice places to work.

      I’ve done waiter at a tex mex place, my current coworker the same, we talk about the bullshit one has to jump through to be able to pay rent. Working multiple jobs to make ends meet for a job that cuts your hours or has you work a double without any forwarning.

      And when it comes to the group action, unfortunately wait staff at the shittiest of places still exist because someone needs money to survive. And if you can get out of the hellhole to a real job, you do it the first chance you can. Doesn’t really give enough time to create group action.

      I don’t have an answer for it, we should get rid of tipping. I don’t eat out really at all, that’s my fix. But I’m far far out of the restaurant business now and if I’m back in it then my life has gone absolutely horribly wrong.

    • billybob@lemmy.zip
      43·
      2 days ago

      Servers in America can work 20-30 hours a week and pretty easily make 40-50 dollars an hour. Very few restaurants can afford to pay their staff that much. These servers aren’t making 5 dollars an hour like everyone thinks. I personally think the most messed up thing about the restaurant industry is the cooks make the least amount of money out of everyone. Sysco reps, delivery drivers, servers, bartenders, owners, they all profit off of the kitchen.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
        4·
        1 day ago

        Very few restaurants can afford to pay their staff that much

        Most other countries have figured out how to make it work.

      • Evotech@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 day ago

        So you agree it’s dumb s fuck that only the last chain, those who carry the food to the table should be tipped