[thieving_magpie]

The way you describe it sounds like a micro trickle-down wealth redistribution rather than making sure someone has a fair wage.

Personally I find this really frustrating. You're not paid fairly for your labor. You only achieve a living wage through the generosity of those "happy to help boost" me. In my mind that reinforces a power dynamic between the "professionally successful" and those in the service industry. If I get a tip that raises my wage to something I can live off, now I must be profusely thankful to the person that donated their money to me.

I may be isolated in that opinion. I understand many service industry workers prefer tipping. For my personality though it's distressing.

[snowwrestler]

Employees like tipping because it gives them greater control over their earnings. If they handle customers efficiently, if they sell hard, they can make more money. And they can take it home that day if they are receiving tips in cash.

And business owners like tipping because it aligns the employees' interests with their own: bringing in as much revenue as possible.

There are U.S. food service jobs without tipping, for example fast food chains or school cafeteria workers. Do these folks have higher pay as a result? Generally no.