I could never figure out what makes the labor of your counter help at the local McDonald's worth more than that of your wait staff at the local Denny's. It used to be that 10% was considered an average tip. Now they tell you it should be 15%. And what's the connection to the price of your meal? The jerk who orders the $4 special and the coffee with unlimited refills can take up a booth for four hours and leave more mess to clean-up than the family of 4 who spends $30 and is seated and gone in 40 minutes.
In Japan (and most of Asia) tipping is not the custom and the level of service is far better than anything here.
Tipping is voluntary, why should it have to "go"? If you don't want to tip, don't tip. Let's not forbid a voluntary behavior.
As for "niggardly" wages, there's a cure for that too. If an employee is dissatisfied with his wages, he's free to take his skills elsewhere. If you don't like how an employer pays his employees, you likewise are free to take your business elsewhere.
In many places waitresses only get paid $2.60 per hour and they cannot always depend on tips. Many people leave without leaving a tip. On the other hand the counter help gets minimum wage, and why should I tip the counter help? It’s their job to take my order, take my money and hand my order to me
And what might be your conclusion regarding Japanese waiters and waitresses working harder?
Employers in Japan try to get their workers to NOT WORK on Saturdays — to no avail because of the work ethic and culture.
Do you think you could transplant that work ethic here? Tell me how.