“This will lead to poor or inconsistent service. If you’re guaranteed a certain amount, why work any harder than you have to?”
I doubt that. Is it your contention that any worker who has a fixed wage doesn’t work hard? There are still incentives to work hard, just like any other job - better servers may get raises, promotions, etc.
Sorry. You’re wrong. The “incentives” would be construed as unfair by the slackers in the group. Waiting on tables is a different mentality from sitting at a desk. Job skills are the same too. On a construction site, you move up the ladder after you learn a trade. Laborers get $10 p/h. Crane operators, brick layers much more. And the laborers can see that they earn it. Nothing will be “fair” again in this restaurant.