Why it matters: Typically, ideas like these are tough to turn into reality, but next year when the Trump tax cuts expire, Congress will likely pass some kind of new tax bill.
- That creates an opportunity to put new policies in place, says Brendan Duke of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
The intrigue: Where things start to get wild is outside the restaurant industry, as Americans try to figure out ways to classify more of their income as tips. Think bankers’ bonuses or sales commissions — or even pay for a Substack writer or freelance podcaster.
- The U.S. tax code already has different rules for different kinds of income — capital gains, for example, are taxed at a lower rate than payroll income.
- When those kinds of divides happen, you create enormous incentives for people to game the system, says Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center.
- Those kinds of shenanigans typically happen with higher earners — think of the carried interest tax loophole, for example.
For the record: An official from the Harris campaign said the policy would include “strict requirements to prevent hedge fund managers and lawyers from structuring their compensation in ways to try to take advantage of the policy.”
- Trump’s campaign hasn’t offered much in the way of detail.
In general I don’t usually tip because of this. It’s not my place to pay them a living wage; it’s the employer’s job. If more Americans would take this stance and make it impossible for employers to hire at sub-minimum wages; this culture would go away.
I have to receive more than above-and-beyond service to even consider tipping; and then it’s only when I have the funds to do so. I don’t appreciate tipping pressure either; and I will actively not tip when people are pressuring me to do so; or when the execution of the transaction itself needlessly provides a prompt to tip when there’s really no reason to tip anyone who doesn’t care or provide more than their basic job in service.
Frequently there’s no reason to tip in most service contexts; as there’s no additional work being done; or assistance being asked of the employee. In some limited contexts there’s justification for tipping; but it’s very limited justification, and it really comes down to a couple questions: ‘Did the employee provide a service that was far more exceptional than would be reasonably expected of them to perform’, and, ‘Was that performance given merely because it was asked or needed to accommodate you as a customer and your immediate and obvious needs’?
In some contexts, in some jobs, those opportunities to go above and beyond do exist. In those contexts…tip if you feel it’s appropriate. In many other service jobs; the employer has brutally optimized and taken complete management over the efficiency and tasks being performed and; as such; they should assume the responsibilities of ensuring that an employee gets paid sufficiently, but also gets opportunity to get paid for reliable, superb or consistent superior performance.
What sucks is your act of defiance only screws over the worker.
The employer got paid no matter what.
I get that, but also we shouldn’t have 1/5 of the bill (if 25% tip) hidden behind an expected tip.
I hate the fact that taxes aren’t required to be included with the price.
The worker is expected to refuse to work with companies insisting on the tipped+subpar pay schema. They chose to enter into the agreement anyways.