I've always believed this, but recently had personal experience with it. I've worked at my company for a few years as a Shift Lead and that whole time I was making $3.50 an hour plus tips. A couple months ago they changed the pay structure to include a mandatory service fee/ optional tipping. I am now making $17.50 an hour plus tips, and it has changed my life. I normally work 30-40 hours a week and my paychecks would be $300-400 a week, now it's between $600-750 a week. I've gone to the dentist, fixed my car, and am looking at a slowly increasing savings account rather than a stagnant one. I used to have to donate plasma to pay my bills, but now that money from donating plasma is also going into my savings. I'm literally doing the same work I've always done, but making twice as much, enough to live and save. I'm excited about work instead of dreading it because I feel like I finally get paid enough to deal with the stress. Poverty is a choice corporations make for us.