Did you know that tips were introduced in the late 1800s by wealthy Americans returning from Europe?
In honor of those in the food serving industry, January is observed as Be Kind To Food Servers Month.
In order to recognize and reward quality service, tipping was initially introduced.
Over time, it has grown to become a customary way to show kindness and appreciation.
Although this system of tipped wages has been met with much controversy, Be Kind To Food Servers Month was created to bring attention to the issue and encourage customers to give bigger tips.
The custom of tipping began in Europe during the late Middle Ages, where it was born out of the master–slave relationship that was prevalent at the time.
This tradition was brought to the United States by wealthy Americans who had experienced it during their travels on the continent.
When wealthy individuals arrived between the 1850s and 1860s, they began tipping at diners and restaurants as a way to appear aristocratic.
This was met with widespread disapproval, as it was seen as condescending, classist, and un–American.
The anti–tipping protests were so strong that they spread throughout Europe, sparking labor movements that eventually caused the practice to end.
The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery after the Civil War, ultimately put an end to the movement against tipping in America.
However, this did not stop companies from exploiting black people by denying them wages and forcing them to rely solely on tips.
Between 1910 and 1920, six Southern states, including Iowa and Georgia, had laws temporarily banning tipping, which had grown increasingly unpopular.
Despite this, all these laws were repealed or declared unconstitutional by 1926 by the state Supreme Courts.
Tipping was made part of the New Deal in 1938, which constituted the federal minimum wage for tipped workers.
This minimum wage was revised in 1966 and is currently at $2.13. Despite this, seven states in the U.S. mandate that all workers must be paid the full state minimum wage before tips.
