During the early stages of the pandemic, most people agreed that frontline service workers deserved “hazard pay” – often in the form of extra tips. They were basically risking their lives to deliver food or serve drinks! But with cities opening back up, generous tipping is decreasing, and workers are feeling the crunch.
Data from several credit card companies revealed that tipping is returning back to pre-COVID levels. But many workers get very low paychecks because companies assume people will tip – sometimes as low as $3.00 an hour!
“If you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat out” is a popular message shared on social media – but it leaves out an important detail.
Millions of U.S. workers are currently underpaid or live in poverty, but this doesn't mean they should be forced out of enjoying a night out once in a while because they can’t afford to tip! We’re blaming each other, instead of the actual guilty culprit.
Companies need to raise wages! Workers’ paychecks being contingent on tips is a capitalistic tactic to pass on costs to us. How can they pay CEOs so much but can’t even pay workers?
There has to be a push for pay equity to improve the quality of life for all workers. The underpaid shouldn’t be responsible to pay the wages of the also underpaid.