Originally Posted by
Adam1222
I think it's important to note these aren't "habits" per se - not calling you out specifically, but rather something baked in to the structure of workplace law in the United States. Under federal law, and under most state laws, certain workers who "customarily" receive tipped are not required to be paid the full minimum wage. A lot of people who call bartenders in lounges or housekeeping staff "greedy" on Flyertalk do not realize this, or do not realize that there is no reason for bars/lounges/hotels to pay the non-tipped full minimum wage until and unless these laws are changed.
In the states that allow tip credits, the total has to come up to at least minimum wage, or the employer has to make up the difference. Except at resort-type hotels, I doubt that tips would be enough to cover the difference between the tipped minimum wage and the standard minimum wage, so the hotel will still have to pay the extra amount necessary. Therefore, when you tip, all you're doing is saving the hotel some money on wages.
Unlike restaurants, where tipping is all but mandatory and failure to tip is a social faux pas, tipping in hotels in the US is still optional and I hope it stays that way. I will tip for special service, but I'm not tipping housekeeping just for doing their job. I guess that works out because I usually decline housekeeping services anyway.