New Yorkers Tip Pennies While Gig CEO Pockets Millions
According to The Independent , New York delivery couriers now get just 76 cents per DoorDash order, a stark drop from previous years. The story laments the disappearing tips, framing it as a consumer choice issue. What it conveniently omits is the multi-billion dollar valuation of DoorDash and the wealth accumulated by its founders. CEO Tony Xu's compensation, for example, topped $400 million in
2021, and the company has consistently fought against fair wage legislation. This isn't a story about New Yorkers being stingy; it's a story manufactured to distract from corporate greed. These platforms built their empires on the backs of underpaid labor, externalizing costs onto the consumer's 'generosity.' So, a 76-cent tip is apparently the public's moral failing, not the inherent flaw of a
business model designed to exploit precarious workers. One might even wonder who benefits from this narrative. (Hint: It’s not the drivers.)