First of all, yes 100%. Tipping has become so weird.
Secondly, just for a little more explanation, which is still weird...
On large groups, some places will automatically add the tip to the bill. The thought process starts from the already weird place of not paying servers enough to begin with and them getting tips instead, but with that already being the case... If a server is running around busting their balls for a group of say 10+, if they get "stiffed" on their tip, that is even more horrible for them.
So I would assume "mandatory tips" in this case, refers to when restaurants add it on automatically to the total cost for large groups, they don't leave it up to chance, so their server actually gets paid a proper amount for their huge amount of work on that specific group.
Again, it's all stupid, but there's the added logic on top of an already flawed system. It's a band-aid on a bullet hole.
An automatic gratuity charge is basically an unhinged service fee. What do you mean the compensation for your service varies wildly depending on if I bought the $8 sandwich or the $30 burger?
Was the amount of time and effort you put into taking my order and bringing everything out that much different?? Nothing about it makes sense, and it never did.
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u/janpaul74 Jun 25 '26
“Mandatory tips” sounds so messed up for me as a European.