668: Tipping | Skeptical Sunday

Tipping isn't a city in China. But it is a shameful institution that encourages racism, sexism, harassment, and exploitation of low-income workers while placing the burden of compensation on customers instead of business owners. If most restaurants and service-based industries in the world can exist without relying on tipping, why does the custom persist in the United States, and what would be a fairer, more sustainable alternative?

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/668

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:

• The federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 per hour -- the same as it was 31 years ago • (though it can be even less in some states under certain circumstances). Why is it the customer’s responsibility to pay these workers a fair wage?

• Why, contrary to the protests of whoever happens to be holding the purse strings, raising the minimum wage for the person serving you will not make your burger cost $25. •

• How tipped workers are still expected to fulfill untipped tasks during their "down" time • , but without a raise in compensation to make up for it.

• Why the institution of tipping encourages racism, sexism, harassment, and exploitation • of low-income workers.

• How the custom of tipping came about • , why it persists in places like the United States, and what we should be doing to replace it with something that would better serve the server and served, alike.

• Connect with Jordan • on Twitter • , on Instagram • , and on YouTube • . If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com • and let him know!

• Connect with David • at his website • , on Twitter • , on Instagram • , on TikTok • , and on YouTube • , and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here • or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here • and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town!

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