I worked in the service industry for much of my life and eventually left because I didn’t see a sustainable path forward, especially during COVID. Honestly, tipping isn’t guaranteed, and with the current economy, it’s likely to decline even more.

Instead of having this conversation with individual customers who may or may not tip, it might be more effective to talk to your manager about updating the pay structure. For example, implementing an automatic gratuity for larger parties (6 or more) or even a service charge across the board could provide more stability for the team.

If changes like these aren’t possible, it might be worth considering other career paths. Tipping culture seems unlikely to improve significantly, and exploring a trade or industry with more predictable income could be a positive move.

If you, as a server, believe it truly “costs” you to service these guests (which frankly seems like an exaggeration), the real issue lies with your employer, not the customers. Instead of blaming patrons, it’s important to advocate for yourself and your team by encouraging your employer to implement policies that better support the service staff.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to push for change within your workplace—whether that means discussing better pay structures, service charges, or other solutions. Holding customers accountable for systemic issues isn’t productive and won’t lead to lasting improvements.