> almost wish Uber/Lyft were more expensive (and that money went to drivers). I'd use them less, but I'd be happier about using it when I did.
You can do this already using the tips on both platforms, which go entirely to the driver. Unless your wish is that it were more expensive on a macro level.
I think the point is that if they were more expensive (and that money went to drivers), then users might think twice about summoning a car when they don't really need one, and give more consideration to more traffic- and environmentally-friendly alternatives. There's also the possibility that drivers might be able to make a reasonable living without feeling pushed to cut corners in maintenance, rest, etc.
Just giving tips to drivers can help out the individual drivers who benefit from them, but it doesn't shift the balance for the ecosystem as a whole.
Tips are an after the fact, unilateral, non negotiated contract. The only function they provide is a power trip. They should be discouraged. Industry where it has been traditional to tips take the freedom to cut nominal pay, and let customers on a power trip decide for the worker salary. They should not exist in the 21st century.
Maybe that's so, and I support a worker's right to earn a living wage as much as the next guy, but getting back to the states after being in Europe for three months I'm seriously impressed by how much more attentative to my needs servers are here.
And you know what? It's really nice.
The only difference seems to be the tipping culture.
Consider another possibility: people in the US are more afraid of losing their jobs than people in Europe.
People on the other side of the order are often one missed or shorted paycheck away from a cascade of late fees, reactivation fees, and overdraft fees with no way out. Even filing for bankruptcy costs time, energy, and money.
I doubt people in places with functional social safety nets worry about what will happen if they have one bad day where they can't fake a chipper attitude.
I agree it’s more likely this. And although service is better in the US, it does make me feel crappy because I know the only reason it’s better is because they so desperately need the tips.
Unemployments pretty high in the parts of Europe I was in. Whereas unemployments very low in the US. I know there's more emphasis placed on working here in America, but it seems like the employed would want to keep their jobs, no?
Especially if jobs are scarce.
I also think it's harder to fire people in Europe. But I'm not certain it's this constant unwavering fear of job loss that drives the better service, I'd put more emphasis on the variable tip than that.
But if the only reason it's better is because of the tips then how do we get good service without them? Because there's not much tipping in Europe and in the eight months over two trips spent in five countries there, service just seemed to stink.
Maybe there's quite a few cultural differences, it may be that Americans move quicker in general (a slower pace seems common in some European places where people like to just sit at cafes and relax), plus tipping, plus economic anxiety (although I think a lot of Europeans must feel that, Sicily's unemployment is something like 20%), plus attitudes toward work in general, plus the ease with which you may be let go could all add up to create the differences I've experienced.
In a lot of countries in Europe, it is difficult to fire somebody. The service issue is cultural, in two ways in fact:
- in Europe a waiter constantly asking how it's going, is the food good, etc.. is considered intrusive, not "good service".
- waiters not putting huge effort in cheaper restaurants is because, hey why would they when they're not making much more than minimal wage, and because every restaurant in that price range is doing the same.
So, if people cared, and a few restaurants started to offer "better service", people would vote with their feet, and all restaurants would adapt.
> if the only reason it's better is because of the tips then how do we get good service without them?
You tell us! Are you a a software developer?
Are you paid by the FP? Are you paid by the rate of bug/FP? Is the amount you are paid per metrics unilaterally decided by your employer with no way for you to negotiate?
If not, do you produce quality code? How does your employer get you to do a good job without paying you a random amount that they decide, after the fact, with no room for negociation?
I mean, I've seen plenty of software engineers with guaranteed incomes settle into their jobs and slack off so I'm not sure it's a great comparison really if proving your point is what you want to do.
> I've seen plenty of software engineers with guaranteed incomes settle into their jobs and slack off
Make everybody a contractor! Let employers vote with their wallet. You slack off, you don't get renewed. I've been a contractor for more than 25 years, plenty of happy customers, plenty of renewals. Legally, my customers don't need to pay me if they can argue I did not deliver what was asked.
But, we negotiate and agree, beforehand, what the work and what the compensation is. I would never work without knowing what the compensation is ahead of time. WOULD YOU?
as a european who visited the US a while ago, the "fake happiness" as i called it was very offputting to me.
Like, people working dead-end service jobs act way to happy even when they have no reason to be happy. it seems so forced and fake that it actually gives me an unpleasant feeling.
I see little need why a cashier who makes minimum wage should always smile, they are people too and can have a shitty day too?
You can do this already using the tips on both platforms, which go entirely to the driver. Unless your wish is that it were more expensive on a macro level.