A huge new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology finds that women in the service industry whose income is significantly affected by tips are more likely to suffer from poor mental health than workers in any other industry.
The WSJ highlights some of the reasons:
First, women in the service industry (e.g. waitresses) are at the whim of customers. They can never be sure whether the customer will like them and tip well. So it’s hard to relax and say, “Well, at least I’ll make X this week.” Uncertainty is a big risk factor for anxiety. One famous study showed that people would rather be electrically shocked now than wait for a possible shock later. Uncertainty is worse than a shock that might never come.
Second, shift life significantly raises the risk of depression and anxiety. Humans need routine, stability, and the ability to sleep at night (not the day), due to the circadian rhythm and how disruptions can wreak havoc on our mental health.
Third to get more tips, servers have to be constantly bubbly and happy. The dissonance of that is especially difficult if you’re not feeling particularly bubbly and happy. Thus, it’s more likely to exacerbate existing depression.
Fourth, women are much more likely to be sexually harassed than men, and particularly in these industries. Sexual harassment has been linked to increased depression and anxiety.
And fifth, customers have much higher expectations of female servers than male servers. A separate study showed customers demand more of female servers than male servers, and were consistently tipped less for the same perceived customer service.
So Christians, we should tip generously, regardless of the quality of service. In our American mindset, so many people say, “Well, I don’t want to reward bad service,” as if we have a moral duty for “just remuneration.”
Christians never have a moral duty for “just remuneration” because the whole basis of our salvation is Christ’s showing mercy on the really really really bad servers we are.
We’ll be judged by the same standard we judge others, and do we want Christ to treat us for our bad service to him the way we treat servers for bad service?
We have no idea how difficult it is for anyone in life, and if we can afford to tip generously, we should. It’s eternally more important to show Christ than to “show them” for waiting around for that glass of water we desperately need to have a good meal.
This is their life. Their well-being. For us, it’s just a meal. And an opportunity to be loving.
