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The other half work for tips only.

At this point I’ve stopped tipping. However I don’t like random numbers so when I checkout at restaurants I round to the nearest $5. So if my meal was $32.45 I’ll tip $2.55.

For me it’s a fun math game and the percentage for the tip is low.

• the millions who visit.

Talk about devide and conquer tactics.

Just avoid tipping places, and the market will sort itself out

And before you have a melt down, just remember that food and drink out where tipping is required is the definition of discretionary spending, you will be fine.

Who's forcing them to?

There's a massive difference between people saying they wouldn't mind paying more if it meant not tipping and people actually being willing to pay more. The difference between a 20% markup on prices and being asked to voluntarily tip an amount that isn't specified is pretty minimal. Having worked in a job that relied on tips for over a decade, I can't tell you how many times someone who didn't tip complained about the price without a tip. Would they pay it anyway? Maybe. Is it probably a good idea? Maybe. But I don't know many situations in which a 20% hike on prices translates into a 20% increase in wages.

There are definitely a lot of people who would benefit from just making a living wage rather than being paid below minimum and having to supplement that with tips. Often that person just ends up not making minimum wage at the end of the day, and there are definitely companies that exploit that pay arrangement to get people to do work that shouldn't have to rely on tips regardless. There's a small burger place around here that literally hires counter help for tipped wages, but then also makes them do dishes, clean bathrooms, and even help make some of the food. They're basically being paid less than minimum to do two to three jobs, only one of which even legally qualifies for the reduced pay rate.

But would the patrons of that restaurant really not complain if they had to pay an extra $3-4 for a burger? I'm not so sure.

One thing I've learned about people is that many of us find complaining to be cathartic. If it wasn't tipping, it'd be the prices or the service or something else. A lot of the time it's already all of those things.

In the mean time, though, it's probably better to push back against unfair labor practices by trying to pass local laws rather than by just stiffing your server.