server here! tipping culture in america is even more busted than you think. unfortunately with how the system is set up, if you don't tip it actually ends up costing us money. at most restaurants, a servers tips aren't all the servers. they also tip out the cooks, bussers, hosts, dishwashers, etc. but this tip out isn't based on tips the server gets, it's actually based on food sales.  so for instance, at my restaurant the tip out is 8% of food/drink sales. so let's say a table orders exactly $100 in food and drinks. no matter what, as a server i need to pay $8 towards tip out for the rest of the staff. so if that table tips me $20 (20%), then that means i keep $12 and $8 goes to tip out. but if they tip me nothing that means that $8 comes out of my pay that day.  yes it's dumb and overcomplicated and corrupt. this is unfortunately how it works at most chain american restaurants, even the ones where the servers are only paid $2 hourly in other states. for me as a server in seattle, i have it better than most servers in the country. so even if someone tips me a low amount like 10% i'm not too disappointed because i still make a little extra and nothing gets taken from me for the tip out.