Similar, but not exactly the same. In the case of wait staff, the pay system is well known and regulated (see below). In the case of the gig workers, it appears to be up to the employer, unregulated, and not well documented.
In the restaurant industry, a waiter must be paid the standard minimum wage (for the state/city/etc). However, because tips are expected, the employer is allowed to pay less IF AND ONLY IF the tips make up the difference.
Made up example:
State min. wage: $10/hour
State adjusted min. for wait staff: $5/hour
Tips per hour: $6/hour
Actual pay: $11/hour ($5 adjusted + $6 tips)
Tips per hour: $3/hour
Actual pay: $10/hour ($3 tips + $7 pay)
In the gig economy, that $5/hour adjust minimum might not exit (because it's not regulated), so the scenarios becomes...
Made up example: Employer-stated hourly rate: $10/hour
Tips per hour: $9/hour Actual pay: $10/hour ($9 tips + $1 pay)
Tips per hour: $3/hour Actual pay: $10/hour ($3 tips + $7 pay)
And in the very extreme case...
Tips per hour: $11/hour Actual pay: $11/hour ($11 tips + $0 pay)
By avoiding the minimum wage, and backfilling wages with tips, the employer can theoretically avoid paying ANY wages to employees (and I'm specifically calling them employees here because I believe most of these gig economy jobs should be employees, even if not legally required to do so).
Yes, but whether or not you think it's immoral, it's legal, and it's codified. Which is different from DoorDash lying to you when they say "100% of the tip goes to your Dasher".
In the restaurant industry, a waiter must be paid the standard minimum wage (for the state/city/etc). However, because tips are expected, the employer is allowed to pay less IF AND ONLY IF the tips make up the difference.
Made up example: State min. wage: $10/hour State adjusted min. for wait staff: $5/hour
Tips per hour: $6/hour Actual pay: $11/hour ($5 adjusted + $6 tips)
Tips per hour: $3/hour Actual pay: $10/hour ($3 tips + $7 pay)