I waitressed for $.80 and hour and was expected to make the rest of my pay by tips. I could make at least the minimum wage, or more if I worked harder.
Betting your lumber yard paid you more than half the minimum wage.
The harder, more efficiently, courteously and pleasantly I worked, the more I could earn, and the better you enjoyed good service with your meal
If you really want to see how fully paid untipped waitstaff works, try eating in a restaurant where the waiters are govt employees who get their paycheck no matter when and how they deliver your food. Communist countries used to be infamous for this
better yet, if you do not want to support workers in this profession who are partly paid as if they were independent contractors- teaching them valuable customer service skills - just pack a sammich and eat in a park. OR order pizza ... oops guess you don't tip the pizza driver, either
My pay for that shift was about $2
That is why large groups get an automatic tip added to their bill