And there are millions of people who work under the minimum wage because of the disgusting Minimum Tipped Wage rule where states can set the minimum wage as low as $3.89 and corporations can pool take the money left by patrons as tips to redistribute do whatever they want with.
Way back in the day....I worked restaurants....waiter and bar tender.
I was VERY happy with the set up, as that even back then, I made WAAAAAY over minimum wage. It was a sweet deal, especially for a kid in HS and college.
Its kinda like how people want to get rid of 1099 contract working and try to force everyone to be a W2 wage employee.
Its good for some, maybe for most, however...some of us don't mind putting on the "big boy pants" and do things like incorporate ourselves....take time to do the math to figure out the bill rate needed for our salary, taxes, medical, employment taxes, etc....etc.
If you know what you're worth and negotiate your bill rate, contracting can be quite lucrative and the freedom is an amazing benefit.
So, it's not a one size fits all.
And at least with the Tipped Wage situation, if you're good at it, you can make VERY good money as a tipped employee. If you can't do that, well...there's always burger flipping for W2 full min. wage...or other careers, you know?
At least, that's my experience.
I never had to work where the company touched my tips (not the cash ones, and when I checked out, they paid me my CC tips immediately). If there are places that do that, well...if the $$ wasn't there I expected...I'd find a new place to work.
Again, even here...the individual has the responsibility to work where they can make the most $$. But I believe it is rare the restaurant that forces pooling of tips. Kitchen staff are not tipped employees.
When working bar, the bartenders tend to pool the tips for all that are on staff for that shift...since everyone is covering all patrons....but again, at end of shift...you get YOUR tips....
C