It's interesting to me that two people can see the same statement from such different perspectives. To me, a statement like this shouts, "broken system!"
Imagine if the calculator program on your phone was always incorrect, but in the same way: it was always too low by 20%. And then someone told you, "you literally don't have to think about it. Just add 20% every time you use it. That's it." Would that sentence make sense to you?
Why are you complaining about inflation? Just pay 10% more, it's that simple!
You can't argue both at once. You literally say above that you prefer tips because even if they increased prices you make more because of tips (i.e., making people feel guilty and throwing extra money at you).
But then you tell me if it was 20% higher I wouldn't care. Both of those can't be true.
I know you and I are being exploited when they want me to add 20% to the current prices. You literally just told me you make more money when I have to tip 20% than if prices were increased. Thus that means the TRUE price would not be a 20% increase. Therefore I'm being taken advantage of. And you are being taken advantage of because the employer is putting the variable risk on YOU. If there is less traffic in a place, that is on YOU. Why should that be your concern? If you work 8 hours, you work 8 hours. You don't control who comes in to the place. That's the employer's concern to choose a good location, advertise or whatever. But nope.. you are perfectly fine bearing that risk and perpetuating this stupid system.
And you are correct- if they showed true prices with no expectation of tips and I know everyone is being compensated fairly then I don't care about the price. I lived the UK for many years. What you see is what you pay, including tax. People are paid, there is time off, national medical coverage etc etc etc. There's not a thought about it. And I hate the mind games here.
Tipping is OPTIONAL. Live with it.