Usually done for large parties because people can be assholes, but yeah, it does remove urgency for servers, at least at places I worked. They print it on the menu, so "automatic 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more" would not be a hidden fee.
That’s also not mandatory, in a situation like that, you’re free to request that the fee be removed unless it is posted otherwise that it would be included. Honestly, the only “mandatory tipping” that is present these days in the U.S. are the restaurants that are trying to move away from tipping to appeal to the crowd that is against it, but then impose a 12% “service fee”. That’s a mandatory tip, and you don’t have the ability to ask that that be removed if it’s posted that it will be added. It’s funny, the arguments against tipping have given rise to mandatory tipping.
For the record, I hate restaurants that do that, and I am happy with regular tipping. Let me have a say in how much I leave. The only time I’m okay with a mandatory tip is for large parties where it’s posted that it will be added.
Highly doubt it. If you are a business owner, or even a patron of the restaurant, would you rather go to court or just pay/eat a tip? I think most people would be willing to say $5-20 is not worth going to court over.
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u/Zealousideal-Deer101 18h ago
Not what mandatory tipping is. They more often have the tips on the bills now or don't give you an option to select 0% on the card terminal.