I know that some American tourists actually do this, on giving servers cash tips as if they’re underpaid by their employer (since they’re used to it in the USA along with growing up with that mindset) but overlook the fact that servers are paid the minimum wage in the EU, as it’s not “typically” the norm. This practice is being exported it seems, in another region where that isn’t common.
Absolutely not. Some groups are trying to do that shit here in Japan so they can stop paying a proper wage and pass off costs to consumers. It’s awful.
~ someone who spent years as a tipped employee
I’ve heard from a friend of mine who works in the service industry over there: it’s a pain in the ass for businesses due to how taxes work in Japan, as they’re required to disclose the tipped money (otherwise it may be tagged as tax evasion) alongside it being divided amongst employees. What makes it worse, is that in most cases they place either ¥5000 or ¥10000 bills inside the tip jar.
Legally this is true in the US. In practice, people claim enough to hit “real” minimum wage and no one usually cares (until that tipped employee needs to prove income for a loan or something and they’re screwed)