They make up 0% of the wages for waiting the tables. That $2/hour covers the side work. Filling shakers, rolling silverware, that sort of thing. And it barely, just barely, might pay minimum wage for that work, as it's usually a half hour before and after getting tables and ten or fifteen minutes each hour depending on number of tables. It would be NICE if businesses actually paid their waitstaff to wait tables, but they've figured out how to pass that bill on to the customers. Which is quite shitty of them. A tip SHOULD be the reward for excellent service, not the actual paycheck for all customer service.

A lot of people that serve are there because they have to be to continue supporting themselves and their families. "Just get a new job if you don't like it" is not always an option. OP did not handle the situation well, but if everyone that didn't like being treated like shit while serving stopped serving there would be no restaurant for people to go out to eat and be served a nice meal. People need to stop looking down on the people who they rely on and expect to happily serve them their meals.

Waitstaff is not paid to wait tables. That $2/hour covers the time spent filling shakers, sweeping the floor, wiping tables, filling the ice bin, restocking waitstation shelves, rolling silverware, etc. That ALMOST pays minimum wage for the time spent doing that. Greeting customers, taking orders, delivering orders, refilling drinks, bringing boxes, etc. is paid for by the customer via a tip. If you don't tip, then you are saying you are such an awesome and incredible person that the waitstaff should pay to take care of you. And, since they are paying taxes on 8% of their sales based on the assumption they get tips...that's exactly what they did. My customer would get drink, food, and bill all in one trip and then not see me again until it was time to clean the table.

@90. You are missing the point. The employer pays the difference between their wages and the minimum wage. They are getting minimum wage for the work they have done so your $2/hr argument is irrelevant. Customer's tips don't help the employee very much, it just helps the employer. If a waiter had no tips during a pay period, their paycheck would not be $2/hr * hrs worked less taxes. It would be minimum wage * hrs worked less taxes. If customer's don't tip, then the employer pays more to the employee and if the employer doesn't tip, then the employer pays less to the employee. Either way the employee makes minimum wage any way you slice it.

Sure it helps the waiter/waitress. It helps them keep their job/hours.

no...they aren't. This isn't even a funny joke among internet memes.....

Yep...after all, you already knew he was an asshole. That sort lives to cause problems.