ELI5: Why is tipping a waiter/waittress expected for doing their job?

It actually started in Europe, and came to the U.S. after the civil war, and there were laws passed against tipping in some places but they all were repealed and it's a fact of life.

https://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-tipping-2015-10

Personally I have no problem with it, I like giving people tips.

But critics have said that allowing the minimum wage to be so low for tipped staff basically creates a two-tier worker system, and that it encourages discrimination by staff who are trying to serve what they think are those who are more likely to leave a fat tip.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/i-dare-you-to-read-this-and-still-feel-ok-about-tipping-in-the-united-states/?utm_term=.e59da36907e2

/r/explainlikeimfive Thread