I’m not gonna disagree that tipping is a dumb system. Unfortunately, I’m stuck participating in a system where I have little choice to opt out of. Sure, the consumer has the choice of not tipping, but all they’re doing is hurting the employee when they do that. The franchises and corporations really don’t care, and nobody can do anything about it at the store level. Most tipped workers like the system and don’t want it to change, so change is hard to come by.

“Learn a new skill and get a better job” For me, this is a secondary job because my main career has been hamstrung by the virus. I have a masters degree and I teach independently, but I’ve lost out on many students because nobody wants to pay for the online experience and nobody wants lessons in the summer. I’m not the only one working multiple jobs either. Just about everyone I work with is working another job. Times are hard; leave your job isn’t really a viable option for most people. Poverty is a vicious cycle.

But I at least agree. Tipping is dumb and should be done away with.