[rahimnathwani]

> the status quo places the onus to make sure that happens on you.

The onus is on the employer, not on the employer's customer. Implementation varies by state: http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

Some states have a higher minimum cash wage (before tips) than the $2.13 mandated by federal law. e.g. in California this is $9 per hour.

In many places, the employer (restaurant) is responsible for topping up the employees' wages if wage+tip doesn't reach the state's normal minimum wage.

[vertex-four]

Of course, there's no real protection against being fired for failing to make enough tips... and for those who make over minimum wage on tips right now, not tipping them amounts to them making less money.

[sukilot]

Do you work for minimum wage? But you expect waiters to smile for it.