‘I get it,’ mock Domino’s customers as pizza chain sparks fury with $3 off promotion – even workers say ‘it doesn’t make sense’

DOMINO’S has sparked controversy by offering a promotion they say encourages tipping – while others argue it promotes unfair pay.

The promotion began Monday, offering customers a $3 online delivery voucher for every $3 or more they tip Domino’s drivers.

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“At Domino’s, we know there’s a lot of pressure to tip these days,” says the narrator in an ad for the business.

“Domino’s wants to say ‘thanks for the tip’ by giving you the tip back.”

The You Tip, We Tip deal runs until mid-September, according to CNN.

Tipping culture has been criticized since it became increasingly common in the wake of the pandemic.

Nowadays, shoppers can be asked if they would like to leave tips at restaurants and hairdressers, but also at supermarkets, coffee shops and other new categories of businesses.

Some research shows that Americans are tipping less even though they are asked to tip more – leading to tip fatigue.

“Tips make up the majority of our pay and are extremely important for delivery people,” said a Domino’s delivery driver in Florida who spoke to CNN.

“We have lost employees and faced frequent turnover due to low or no tips.”

For some, Domino’s promotion represents a larger problem: the failure of big companies to pay living wages.

THE FIGHT FOR A FAIR WAGE

Domino’s campaign is a way to avoid paying its workers a traditional income and shift the responsibility to customers in the form of tips, said Saru Jayaraman, president of the worker advocacy group One Fair Wage.

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Delivery drivers’ pay is tied to tips in 43 states, Jayaraman explained.

This allows employers to pay drivers the federal “subminimum wage” of $2.13 per hour, a difference of more than $5 from the $7.25 minimum wage for non-tipped workers.

Although employers must supplement a tipped worker’s wages if it doesn’t equal at least $7.25, wage theft is common, Jayaraman said.

Domino’s ad campaign is a way for the company to “encourage people to tip more, rather than paying their workers a real minimum wage with additional tips,” she said.

But the delivery man said he was “grateful” for the promotion and hoped to make some extra money from it.

ANGRY PIZZA LOVERS

Domino’s fans quickly noticed the controversy behind the promotion and shared their opinions on social media.

Ah, so we pay them instead of you paying your drivers more. Got it, coach.

Facebook user

“It would make more sense to give the driver $3 for each delivery,” said one person he wrote on Facebook.

“Ah, so we pay them instead of you paying your drivers more. Got it, coach,” added another.

Many people simply took the opportunity to complain about the rise of tipping culture across industries.

“Waitresses, waiters and delivery drivers should be paid tips, not their hourly minimum wage earners. The same goes for grocery shoppers and delivery service workers who earn very little and rely on tips,” lamented one person.

“I advise that the delivery is not picked up, unless it is just your job”, explained another.

Domino’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The US Sun.