How much do you tip?

[sanantone]

Does anyone tip the Sonic carhops? I didn't even know you were supposed to tip them. Some locations pay at least minimum wage and others pay the tipped employee minimum wage. I really do not believe in tipping someone just because he or she brought my stuff to my car. They aren't driving my food to my house, and they aren't refilling my drinks or bringing more than one course to me. If my local Sonic had a drive-thru or allowed me to walk inside, I would do that. Some Sonics do have drive-thrus.

I heard that if a waiter/waitress does not make at least the regular minimum wage with tips, then the employer is responsible for making up the rest. Is that true? It looks like it is true.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm