system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why are wait staff exempt from federal/state min wage regulations and why aren't unions/ workers rights orgs making any efforts to change this?

Seriously... How is it legal to pay them <$3 an hr in some places?
gpt
They arent exempt. If their tips dont get them over the minimum wage then the company has to pay them enough to bring it up to the minimum. No one is trying to change it because waiters prefer it this way. If they all made a decent amount in an hour then people would start viewing tipping as truly optional ( sure it is technically optional but you are an asshole if you dont tip in america ). Then they would make way less than they do now. Waiters make good money at most restaurants. People will walk home with 100 dollars in their pocket at even just modest restaurants. Basically the way it is now benefits wait staff and restaurants.