Alan: guys, you're Americans, could you tell me how much should I tip in NYC, I'm always confused
Peter: I'm British :P
Alan: Once sb told me it's about 10%
Alan: that it's decent
Josephine: No, I'd say at least 15%
Melissa: In NYC I always give at least 20%
Jay: me too
Alan: What? That's a lot!
Melissa: I know, but there are good reasons for that
Melissa: waiters get paid very badly in NYC
Jay: if they get paid at all
Melissa: exactly
Alan: what?
Melissa: it's said that nowadays a lot of business owners don't pay waiters because they assume they would get tips
Jay: and of course they don't have health insurance and so on, very often
Jay: so conditions of this work are very bad generally
Alan: So we basically chip in their salary?
Jay: yes, it seems so
Melissa: I believe in most of cases it's true
Alan isn't sure if a 10% tip is enough in NY. Josephine usually tips minimum 15%, Jay and Melissa more than 20%. Many NY waiters don't get regular wages or don't have health insurance so they have to rely on tips as only income.