It’s there culture, just the way there system operates.
My best mate, owns a bar in Nashville he pays his waitstaff $2.75 an hour but there earnings are in the vicinity of $25-00 to $30-00 per hour after tips.
The last time we were in NY the wife and I had a meal in a pricey steakhouse before going to the Jersey Boys on Broadway. There was an automatic 20% tip added to our bill and the waitress that night was a total bitch, I regret paying it too this day because she didn’t earn it.
Had a meal tonight at Matilda Bay Restaurant to celebrate my wife’s 60th, bill for four was $470 I tipped in an extra $50 because the service was outstanding.