As a result of the US midterm elections on Tuesday, voters in Washington, DC accepted a proposal to change the pay structure and raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. The old, two-tiered wage system which allowed restaurant owners to pay tipped workers less than minimum wage under the assumption that the difference in compensation would made through customer tips will now be phased out, and workers will be paid full minimum wage. Advocates for this policy argue it will provide tipped workers with essential worker protections, but opponents claim that this policy will result in rising costs at restaurants which will discourage customers and hurt businesses.
See "Restaurant owners in Washington, DC fear rising expenses after voters accepted controversial proposal to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers", Money Watch, CBS News, November 9, 2022