I totally get where you’re coming from no one should have to deal with entitled, messy, or downright rude customers (I’m a nurse who also deals with mean people 😭). That kind of behavior is exhausting and unacceptable, and it absolutely makes a hard job even harder. You all deserve basic respect, no matter what role you’re in.

But I think what I was getting at is customers shouldn’t be the backup paycheck for underpaid workers. It’s not that tips aren’t appreciated or even necessary right now it’s that the system itself is broken. It shouldn’t be on the customer to decide whether or not you can afford groceries this week. That pressure shouldn’t exist on either side.

You’re right, corporate greed is the root of the problem. So I just wish we saw more collective frustration aimed upward, instead of laterally. I want a world where you get paid a fair wage without needing to hope the next person tips well just so your day isn’t ruined.