World Cup tourists aren’t leaving tips — and NYC restaurants are fighting back
The World Cup games at MetLife Stadium are bringing in roughly 1.2 million soccer fans from around the globe to NYC, and restaurants are raking in big bucks — except the tipping.
https://nypost.com/2026/06/20/us-news/world-cup-tourists-arent-leaving-tips-and-nyc-restaurants-are-fighting-back/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialOpen linkView original on quokk.au
I thought it was optional
It's not. At least culturally in the US and Canada. People will say it is to justify the entire premise of tipping but it's very much an expectation that you tip. I fucking hate tipping though so I'll literally avoid places that ask for tips and go to alternatives.
It's supposed to be. But, some workers aren't paid the same hourly rate as others, and tips being given is the surface level reason given for that. It's more classist amd racist in real terms.
So, since a wide swath of workers only get paid an insulting, horrible hourly wage, tips are how they actually pay their bills. So it's become mandatory in any real sense. It isn't required by law, but you're fucking over people when you don't, so there's still an obligation.
Why is the obligation on the customer to ensure the employee is paid a fair wage, and not the employer and/or government?
Exactly. It shouldn't be.
But, the reason is classism and racism.
The servant is beneath the owner class. That's what it boils down to. Since, here in the US for sure (but not exclusively), black people in particular have been that servant class along with women, of course the owner class wants to pay them nothing.
Since it serves the same interests to have the working class kept in their place as well, shifting the obligation on them means that a majority of the "servants" will be pissed at their fellow working class neighbors instead of the ruling class. It's a win-win. So the laws were shaped to keep that in place, while pretending to help by establishing a bare minimum.
It's bullshit, and always has been, though it was an improvement over having no minimum wage at all
If they don't make federal minimum wage, their employer is required to make up the difference. If minimum wage isn't enough to live on, why is it the minimum wage? 🤔
The employee can just adapt and offer a bonus to compensate.
No laws against that. And using bonuses to avoid giving raises is a time honoured tradition.
Cuz that would cut into profits
Never tip, ever. Also put the entire price on price tags, you fucking troglodytes.
Pay your staff you neanderthals.
Not a single quote in that article alludes to restaurants or pubs fighting back.
Tip culture is awful, USA and Canadians including myself need to get over this "pay by donation after you've already paid" model. I'll do it but no one outside of here should lose sleep over it.
Tips should mainly be given for "better than expected" service. I tip taxi drivers, barbers and servers on a sliding scale between 10-30%, points for if it's on a Sunday night or holiday weekend, if they accommodated a larger group during a busy time, were especially personable or did specific things to help celebrate an occasion. Everything outside that and "pay before you get the service" model earns about $1-2 tips maximum from me.
I quit tipping unless the service is somehow extra. I don't go some places because they are dicks about it. Tipping is just another way to rip off food service workers. It shouldn't be what it is and going along with it will not help the situation.
I don't quite get this, well I do and, as usual it boils down to racism long ago.
I'm not am employee or manager of the restaurant. However, I'm expected to perform an appraisal on the spot and conclude the review by delivering an outcome in the form of a % of sales amount? Servers want to get paid but then why should I work for free? Want an appraisal, pay me.