Gratuity –noun, plural -ties. 1. a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip. 2. something given without claim or demand. How can it be theft when a tip is a voluntary gift by definition. What if your waiter is horrible and screws up your order and truly does not deserve a tipZ? This is opening the door for abuse. Who is going to arbitrate these cases? Did the worker deserve it or not. Can you give a penny just to avoid breaking the law?