The popular pizza chain, Domino's, has stirred up controversy with a recent promotional offer. This offer rewards customers who tip their drivers with online vouchers, leading to a heated debate about wage fairness and tipping culture.
Under the terms of this promotion, customers who tip their Domino's drivers or more receive an equivalent voucher for online delivery. This incentive has not been without its detractors, with a number of critics claiming that it encourages the practice of unfair wages.
Tipping Culture under Scrutiny
The custom of tipping has faced increasing criticism, especially in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The crux of the argument is that tips, while beneficial to customers and businesses, often place an unfair burden on workers, particularly delivery drivers.
Delivery Drivers’ Pay
A significant number of Domino's drivers report that tips constitute a substantial part of their income. Hence, the absence of tips can have real consequences, such as high staff turnover. It's worth noting that in as many as 43 states, the remuneration of delivery drivers is directly related to the tips they receive. This allows employers to pay their drivers a federal “subminimum wage”, which is as low as .13 per hour.
One Fair Wage’s Stand
Prominent critics of this promotional campaign include Saru Jayaraman of One Fair Wage. Jayaraman believes that promotions such as these essentially shift the onus of providing a standard income onto the customers, instead of the employer where it rightly belongs.
Public Outcry
The backlash against Domino's promotion hasn't been limited to critics and activists. Regular customers of Domino's have voiced their disapproval on social media platforms, suggesting that the company ought to pay their drivers more, rather than relying on tips.
Despite the wave of criticism and calls for a change in their promotional strategy, Domino's has yet to make any public response.