Wages: Don't replace tip with service charge

Re: “Will the move from tips to service charges hit Tacoma restaurants?” (Matt Driscoll column, 1-14).

The minimum wage is going to increase, and how are employers and businesses going to factor in the wage increase?

It seems the businesses that are really scrambling and trying to get creative are in the food industry. Many are planning a 19-20 percent mandatory service charge to replace tipping. I have a problem with that.

Tips are given to service providers for service rendered at the patron’s discretion. There should be no mandatory service charge as everyone becomes salaried.

Restaurants should raise their prices 20 percent with tipping not required; let patrons tip if they want to. A good restaurant will survive and become better; the others will fade away.

What about non-food industries? They’ll raise prices to make up the difference.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Wages: Don't replace tip with service charge."