I think you have misunderstood. Electing to withhold a tip to an hourly employee versus an employee working on tips alone.

My first point being that service employees should be paid a legal hourly wage, including benefits. Including health insurance coverage, unless that is covered by the country they reside in.

People working on tips alone are not generally covered by health insurance.

So if the fish, pasta, wine, or meal quality is bad, and you withhold a tip, who did you actually make you point to ? The person who is charge of ordering said items, or the poor waiter who does not ?

Marriot employees by the way are hired as either as salaried or hourly employees, including a company benefits package.

More importantly, is to address a complaint about service, or dining quality to the right person, my second point. If you withhold the tip to the waiter as you pay your bill, what have you accomplished ? The waiter just tells the manager that you are a "cheapskate " or something else equally descriptive to cover the situation. The word goes around, and perhaps a second look at your bill for your name to go in the mental black book is made. And believe me, most good restaurants know their customers: The good and the bad.

You have just injured yourself by not stating your problem, and if a repeat customer just marked yourself for the next time you visit.

If you don't speak up, the manager never hears your actual complaint, which if valid regarding dismal service, dirty linen, dirty cutlery, dirty china, poor food quality, the wrong meal served, etc. is never addressed as it should be.

Most restaurants today are quite sensitive to a patron or guest dining at a restaurant, leaving for an unknown reason but obviously upset ( no tip ), and then being blasted later online regarding the same incident, in detail.

The question thus arises: " Why didn't they say anything ? " Ergo, speak to the manager, and try and get the issue resolved at the time. It may not be the fault of the waiter.