Most people paid hourly wages or monthly salaries aren't doing jobs that are entirely composed of rendering direct personal service to a customer over an extended period of time.
Tipping is indeed customary in every service trade that I'm aware of, because it conforms to the reality that the waiter/deliveryman/taxi driver/etc. actually is working, at least in part, directly for the customer.
So, in other words, little to no incentive? The prospect of a bigger tip is certainly an incentive. I speak from experience. It's also the reason that many waiters (myself included at one time) will prioritize, say, a group of four adults ordering drinks over a grumpy family with two kids ordering salads and water.
Re:Observations from a Tipless Restaurant
by dragonwriter on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @05:53PM
(#6130302)
> So, in other words, little to no incentive?
The depends on how well the employer monitors performance and holds employees accountable.
Of course, employers who do bad at this in terms of customer service staff will find their business develops a reputation for poor customer service, and loses out to businesses that do a good job at this, all other things being equal.
The same incentive every other worker that gets paid a hourly wage or monthly salary without tips has to do a their job properly.