Originally Posted by
cepheid
A bribe is paid before the fact; a tip is not. I suppose you could call it a reward, of sorts, but it's not a bribe. (And I do agree it should be lessened or not paid for poor performance, just like a garment with a tear should be discounted or refunded.)
I won't quibble on the words, bribe, reward, inducement, what ever. It is wrong no matter what you call it. I can live with calling it a reward, but are rewards normally expected at every transaction?
Originally Posted by
cepheid
Why, then, do you support government health and safety regulations? Why not let the free market decide? If employees don't like the safety protocols at a particular place, they can find a new job.
And, similarly, what employers do with customers is also a free market issue, and an employee's contract is with his employer, not the customer; why then, do you feel it is inappropriate for employees to give poor service to customers when they are upset with the employer? Why shouldn't they be free to do as they please, since the customer can simply go someplace else?
(And, again, I support your position on these last issues... but it seems to disagree with your position on the free market vis-a-vis tipping.)
I see a big difference in the employer/employee relationship and the employee/customer relationship. The relationship and protections and that we, the public, expect from our daily interactions are passed through the system of government that we have.
I think my position is based on who has the power and who has the information. When someone is looking for work they are on a more equal footing when it comes to the issue of wages. They know up front what the wages are and are free to accept or reject them. When it comes to workplace safety the employer is presumed to have the power (to purchase safe equipment, to design a more ergonomic workplace) and the information to protect its workers. The worker does not have the power to research all possible workplace safety issues (such as egress paths, proper fire fighting equipment, etc..) because they lack the information and knowledge that the employer has. We, the citizens of this country, think that is unfair to ask the employee to shoulder that burden alone, so we place it on the employer and force them to share that information and to take precautions to keep them safe. To do otherwise would be to reward the employer who doesn't mind having a bunch of ex-workers named "lefty".
I have a strong dislike for hypocrites. And anyone who claims to be a "professional" who then takes their internal business relationship with their employer and causes me discomfort or annoyance is not a professional. They freely entered into a contract to perform work, and then make false claims about what their employer can and cannot do and also get upset when their employer requires them to follow their contract. They are the ones who should be leaving for a new employer, not me looking for a new place to do business with.
A true professional will make their place of work the best place it can be for both co-workers and customers.