Incorrect.
A plumber’s payback for doing a good job is repeat business. Their payback for terrible service is, at best, lack of repeat business and, at worst, liability for the damage they create by their poor work.
For a food server, who does not have tremendous sway over the quality of the product (the food, barring tampering), the quality of their service is their value to the customer - who pays both them and the establishment.
As I stated in my original post, I am not trying to be negative. I am trying to see how this setup serves the needs of all three parties to the transaction - owner, server, and customer. If the experience under this scenario is good for all concerned, then I would accept it myself. If service declines because there is no direct link to remuneration, I would not patronize the establishment.
I’m actually undecided as to whether it’s a good idea, and simply voiced my question. The analogy to plumbing is not a valid one, because there is no analog to the tipping in the plumbing business. Tipping in food service has been my experience throughout my life. Changing motivations by manipulating money flow is likely to have consequences beyond the intended ones - whether good or bad, I cannot say.
Sorry I’m rambling on, but I have to admit I have been surprised at the vociferousness of the reaction to my question, although I appreciate your engaging in the discussion without making it an attack, FRiend.
A plumber is just an employee like the waitress, and hours of wet and cold is a much bigger reason to slack off when alone and hidden, doing work that will never be seen, than a waitress, who’s every action is short and in plain site, and delivered directly to the customer and in front of the owner.
I have hired people and I would fire one who depended on an artificial, constant fix, to pretend to be a good employee, it is my experience that people are either suited for the work, or not, (in general), I would hire the person first, rather than depend on my customers to turn a sows ear into a silk purse.
Remember that waitresses also have plenty to do in between the dining hours, a lazy, indifferent waitress will not be a good prepper, the owner doesn’t want his waitresses killing his business when serving, nor slacking off when they are prepping.
By the way, you are allowed to tip your plumber, some customers are so into tipping that they do, especially for difficult messy jobs, and after hours work, and weekend work.