An anonymous L.A. influencer trying to get internet-famous by leaving zero tips while eating and drinking around Los Angeles is the latest manifestation of a growing trend that sees consumers questioning and turning away from offering gratuities.
According to a Forbes survey, 18% of people in the U.S. tip less than 15%, and 2% said they don't tip at all. Their attitudes seem to defy the proven fact that many minimum wage workers depend on the extra money from tips to afford a decent quality of life.
Unlike many other cities, L.A. doesn’t deprive tipped employees of the same pay as their non-tipped co-workers, but this extra money earned on top of one’s salary can only stretch so far in a city with such extreme expenses.
Having a tablet with a suggested tip amount turned towards you at the register is a familiar experience in L.A. Not everyone feels inclined to tip the customary 15% or 20%, even if poor tipping practices are affecting whether tipped workers can meet the cost of living, even when combined with the minimum wage they receive.
Most people in tipped positions are minimum-wage employees, such as Elijah Davis, 27, an employee of Starbucks and AMC in L.A. County. Davis needs to work two jobs, around 30 to 50 hours a week, to afford basic needs.
Photo by Caitlin Melgar for L.A. TACO.
Davis usually finds himself closing the bar at AMC one night just to get up early in the morning to open at Starbucks. He does this while learning scripts as he furthers his acting career and works towards attaining his real estate license. Despite multiple sources of part-time income, Davis is on a tight budget while trying to live the L.A. dream with four roommates.