No-tipping plan has numerous drawbacks

Multiple restaurants in Chicago are experimenting without tipping, and they have results.

With a rising minimum wage for tipped workers, restaurants are experiencing large payment gaps between tipped and untipped workers. Ideally, replacing tipping with an automatic service fee should diminish the large differences in pay between tipped servers and the rest of the restaurant employees.

Along with that, the reason for why we tip is a highly debated topic. However, even with the differences in payment and consumer opinion, it is in the best interests for servers and paying Americans alike that tipping should not be replaced with a service fee, as it would be disastrous for both parties.

Most Americans prefer tipping as compared to a separate service fee, as tipping gives the customers the power of choice, and not the restaurant owners. Many customers at no-tipping restaurants believe that they had no control over their quality of service.

Tipping has been preserved in our culture, and has even expanded into other non-food related services. People are very accustomed to tipping after a meal, and there have even been multiple occasions where tips are still being given at no-tipping restaurants. Even servers face issues in no-tipping restaurants. Much it the appeal for a service fee comes from the possible lack of pay for tipped servers. However, with the service fee usually being a constant 20 percent, servers are limited to another hourly wage, whereas tipping provides no limit. No increase of the minimum wage can bypass the uncapped income that tips may provide.

Replacing tipping with a service fee leaves nothing for the customers to gain, and only their choice to lose.

Nathaniel G. Cueto

Carpentersville