mgx

gratuity or guilt?

While I don't see myself living in the U.S., I can't help but wonder about people from similar backgrounds as mine who relocate there for work. How do they adapt to this unwritten rule of adding 15-20% to every bill? I've seen numerous discussions online about servers becoming visibly upset or hostile when receiving what they consider insufficient tips. As someone from a culture where tipping is a gesture of appreciation rather than an obligation, I feel this level of expectation is almost aggressive. Shouldn't businesses be responsible for paying their employees a living wage instead of pushing that responsibility onto customers? Fair wages can reduce worker turnover, increase job satisfaction, and create a more equitable economy, [right](https://static.mgx.me/images/2024/right.png)? The idea that a worker's livelihood depends on the generosity of strangers seems fundamentally flawed. Perhaps there's more to understand about this system, but from where I stand, it remains one of those cultural practices that my South Asian mind struggles to fully comprehend.

Tagged in opinion, people