Hey Folks!
I’ve been living abroad for over half my life in a country where tipping is not the norm. At most you would round up. 19€ bill? Here’s a 20, keep this change.
Going to the US soon to visit family and the whole idea of tipping makes me nervous. It seems there’s a lot of discussion about getting rid of tipping, but I don’t know how much has changed in this regard.
The system seems ridiculously unfair, and that extra expense in a country where everything is already so expensive really makes a difference.
So will AITA if I don’t tip? Is it really my personal responsibility to make sure my server is paid enough?
No, you don’t have to tip. Really unfortunate that some people rely on tips for their wage, but If you don’t tip, you’re NTA.
You don’t have to tip but… You’re the asshole
Yes you are. Punishing service workers is not how you fix tipping culture
Edit: I’ll say that the only way you aren’t an asshole is if you inform the staff beforehand that you won’t be tipping.
I read somewhere that if you don’t make minimum wage with tips the employer needs to make up for it. Is that wrong?
They do, but minimum wage is generally pitiful in the US.
Not sure how you could not be the asshole in that scenario.