Just the tip.

[Cloudane]

That system in Iceland etc is the kind of system I was thinking of and would like if I was over there - not one where the management wins (I agree, that's unfair) - just basically one that enforces the tipping system as it stands so that you don't have all the awkwardness or the contradictory thing of "it must be secretive with the pretence of not doing it but you must do it" or people being hated for not leaving something that is technically discretionary etc etc.

One where everyone just pays the tip and it goes directly to the server as it would've done before. Not the management. Not the cooks. Not the tax man. Just a formalisation of what's already happening (or in the cases people complain about, not happening)

Even down to the level of, you could have a mandatory 20% tip but people can tip more if they're feeling generous, on the understanding (somehow, in the culture) that it would never become an expectation.

Side note, in most restaurants I've been to here (cheap ones not fancy ones) while there is usually a named "you were served by" on the receipt, usually a number of people get involved, no doubt for maximum time efficiency. You can easily have one sit you down, another come and take the drinks order, another come and take the meal order, another bring the drinks over, another bring the meal over, another take the plates and another bring the bill over. That can be a different person every time in the biggest extremes in heavily staffed places, or more often 2-3 people.


Oh also, according to a mug I had not so long ago with some little "facts" written on it, TIPS is actually an acronym. To Insure Proper Service.

(Still, promptness works)

And in countries where tipping isn't culturally enforced, good service is incentivised by not getting fired hehe. Or more often, from the person generally having a nice attitude towards others and work ethic in the first place Especially when you think about somewhere like Japan where that kind of thing is ingrained into the culture.