問題は、店主が正当な賃金を払わないという単純なものではありません。客と従業員にも責任があります。ヨーロッパの一部の国のように、請求書に定額のチップを載せることでチップを廃止しようとしたレストランもありました。結局、客は高い料金を払いたくなくなり、経験豊富なウェイターはチップを認めているレストランの方が稼げるので辞めてしまったため、これらの店は破綻しました。すべてのレストランがチップを廃止しない限り、この制度は続くでしょう。It's not as simple as business owners not paying a fair wage. Customers and workers are also to blame. There have been restaurants that attempted to do away with tipping by including a fixed amount gratuity on the bill like they do in some European countries. Ultimately these businesses failed because customers didn't want to pay the higher prices and experienced wait staff quit because they could earn more at restaurants that allowed tipping. Unless all restaurants get rid of tipping the system will continue.
In America, with the extreme decline in service lately, I’ve gotten to the point where I only tip if I feel it’s deserved. My favorite food places are usually the ones with kind and well-mannered people so I tip very generously to let them know I appreciate them.
I think most people with a good nature will respond altruistically because people behave more naturally when they work without expecting a tip. The tip system itself may be the culprit behind unnecessary self-interest. Start practicing good practices from your own store and spread them across America. I'm sure you'll get lots of support! If someone at Steve's shop insists on paying a tip, please say to him, "Now, could I have your smile and the word 'thank you'?''
The custom of tipping is so patronizing and condescending, just like giving a dime to a kid for an errand. Actually, it reveals the class system lingering in many Western nations. Employees must be paid decently by their employers, which must be legally guaranteed as minimum wages. Thank goodness, there’s no tipping custom here in NZ.
Thank you for your interesting “lecture”. As you may expect, I don’t think tipping culture like the US would take root in Japan. Japanese people believe that greed is less than humility. I hope you will spread such Japanese virtues throughout the US from the Hoshi in the near future. Good luck.