the consumer does not have to give handouts to companies in order to pay employees

I'll tip regardless.

If people cannot survive off of wages being paid, they will most likely find a different job.

There are a lot of reasons why this doesn't hold up. The first and foremost is that transitioning jobs requires savings. The way I see it, my tips are going to help them cross the hurdle to a better job when they get sick of this one. If I withhold my financial support from my working peers, I'm only aiding the employer as their staff remains precariously positioned.