blackbootz oyster AnSionnachRua

Much like the author:

I'm no fan of tipping. However, I recognize that I'm powerless to do anything about it and any action I take is going to hurt the people I side with the most.

The Wall Street Journal profiled Danny Meyer last week:

When the company rolled out its “Hospitality Included” strategy that fall, it was clear that Mr. Meyer faced a major leadership test. A revenue-sharing plan for dining room workers didn’t always make up for lost tips. Many legacy staffers quit and turnover rates spiked. “We lost some people,” Mr. Meyer says.

Many diners seemed thrilled to stop calculating tips but others couldn’t compute the math behind the rising prices. A few confused patrons continued leaving cash on the table. Losing a federal tax break for restaurants based on the tip income its employees report cost the company $1 million a year.

Mr. Meyer launched a public campaign to urge other restaurants to join him. While some owners thanked him for jumping on the tip grenade, few followed suit. A citywide downturn in lunch business and competition from online delivery services made them skittish about raising prices. “We quickly arrived at the conclusion that we’d be going it alone for a long time,” Mr. Meyer says.