Should Tips Go Away in Restaurants? [Poll]

There appears to be a change coming in the restaurant business. That change has to do with how we as customers pay our bill and the way we tip our server.

In the February 1, 2016 edition of Time Magazine, there is an article written by Sara Jayaraman called "The Hidden Cost of Waiting Tables". In the article it mentions that the restaurant business is the second largest employer in the United States employing nearly 11 million people.

Many patrons in restaurants think that the waiter or waitress is being paid at least minimum wage plus tips, but that is not the case. They are considered "tipped employees" and as a result they are paid less than minimum wage and in some cases make as low as $2.13 per hour according to the article.

Therefore, servers depend on the tips that people leave them to make a living. Unfortunately, those tips don't quite make up the difference needed forcing many workers to look for other jobs or go on government assistance.

Here is where a shift in thinking is beginning to take place. Some restaurants are eliminating tipping altogether and building in tip monies into the cost of the meal. Congress also has a bill they are considering to provide "tipped employees" the opportunity to be paid minimum wage as well.

It is an interesting debate on how restaurant owners should go.  To keep good servers, they have to make decent money.  It looks like it is up to the restaurant owners to find a way to make that happen. So what do you think about this? Take our poll and let us know how you feel.