While I don't see myself living in the U.S., I can't help but wonder about people from similar backgrounds as mine who relocate there for work.

How do they adapt to this unwritten rule of adding 15-20% to every bill?

I've seen numerous discussions online about servers becoming visibly upset or hostile when receiving what they consider insufficient tips.

As someone from a culture where tipping is a gesture of appreciation rather than an obligation, I feel this level of expectation is almost aggressive.

Shouldn't businesses be responsible for paying their employees a living wage instead of pushing that responsibility onto customers?

Fair wages can reduce worker turnover, increase job satisfaction, and create a more equitable economy, right?

The idea that a worker's livelihood depends on the generosity of strangers seems fundamentally flawed.

Perhaps there's more to understand about this system, but from where I stand, it remains one of those cultural practices that my South Asian mind struggles to fully comprehend.