Topic: The whole tipping culture in western countries is unfair and totally wrong! (Read 833 times)

There are a few people who would not like to sell their integrity -they are the one who would give and their best and would not look back for the money
These kind of people are very less and they are the boldest of all.

if I would get a chance to work in the field where there is tipping thing.
I would never ask for tip - I would rather give my best shot. Rather than looking at people's face and begging for tip - I would rather earn it hard way. And Not look back for the tip

In our country tip is not mandatory either but a lot of staff acts to get the tip forcefully
I went to a wedding and the waiter were standing in a que to get the tip from the people - and they were forcing people to do so.

Tipping in its roots should be done willingly and not compulsively. I am thinking it has become so ubiquitous that restaurants and food establishments integrated the tipping system into their billing system which is so unfair for the waiters and the customers. On one hand it incentivizes underpaying the waiters and other food handlers coz the rest of their pay could always just be covered by the customer's tips. On one hand this pay is shouldered by the customer which let me just remind you is already covering the pay courtesy of their bill along with other taxes and amenities that are included in their receipt, leaving the restaurant with little to no responsibility in the payment of their workers.

Everyone would agree with how unfair this tipping culture has been but it has become so ingrained in the western culture that a paradigm shift is unlikely to happen, at least not anytime soon.

This is very unfair, do you know there is something we don't think of at the meantime. Those classes of workers can't be characterized for any reason to those in construction workers therefore they are well paid. But if I may get something clearly about tip which is somehow called 'gratuity'. From my research and understanding, most of these workers apart from construction company and being tip that's, whatever they made during their service hours are being returned to their employer, at end of the day or week it would be included in their wages, this applicable to the delivery agent, barbershop, and restaurants. The construction workers are mostly covered with insurance so focused on the fieldwork pay rates are very comfortable.

Yes, i do also have those kind of feels where there are times which i do love to tip when i do get satisfaction on someones service even though to think that they are being paid or have salary but at least im much aware
on how low these people been earning on monthly basis which is something that we do have in reality but its not that compulsory on giving up tips.Its optional and you arent obliged on doing so.
This is why you should really not make yourself get stressed and i dont even know that why this certain topic needs to be discussed considering this action is on self will.
Im surprised that there are even workers who are really that expecting for some tip which it is a bit too much i would say.

I do think that people are accustomed to tipping the service establishment and works. Personally, I learned to tip via watching my parents and/or other people do it. So I do think that there is this societal pressure that comes with it- the idea that you have to tip when it comes to people who do service.

Earlier, I had my haircut and I paid using e-cash. Since I do not have any cash with me, I really felt bad not leaving a tip for my barber earlier; though I told him that I'll add him twice the tip the next time I visit him.

Bottomline is, we have been accustomed to this kind of service ever since. I guess what you mentioned OP is another view and perspective about tipping; but I doubt that people would actually start to follow it anytime soon.

Bartender was just an example. Maybe good, maybe bad example. My vision is that every work must be rewarded, but not every work must be rewarded extra. Giving tips for perfect drink mix? I would say yes and no. It is bartenders work to make perfect mix. Would you tip a cook if he would turn your stake into coal instead of medium ? I am to pay extra for work well done, but I am not ready to make double pay for a regular work done. For example I leave tips in restaurants, cafes, when having my hair done, tire changed. Or I would better say I leave change.

I have seen many times people say that they leave tips for waitress because they have a hard work, and they are on their feet whole day. Sales persons in shops also are on their feet whole day. But at the cash desk people pay price on items tag, they dont leave extra money. You know who also work hard ? Miners work hard, they breath polluted air, they work in difficult conditions. Think they get tips for their work?

bottomline, it is all up to you. but if you want to read a lil bit of culture for every country you visited, you may do so. it will give you insights the variation of culture from one place to another and why they have such traditions. but tipping has no defined laws and regulation. if you feel you're up to it, then give it. but if it is not, like if it is already your last money, then don't force yourself. you won't be jailed because you're not tipping somebody else's service.

In Europe tipping is not mandatory and I like it this way. I don't get how you can tip 20% of your bill to a waiter. Imagine you get more expensive food and drinks and leave 200 EUR at the restaurant, compared to someone who lives just 20. Why should you give a much bigger tip if you're letting the whole restaurant make more money?

I usually leave a tip at the restaurant but it's never a % of the bill. If I spend 20 EUR I might tip 3 EUR, but if I spend 100 I'll still tip not more than 5 EUR. Where I come from a tip is meant for a bartender or a waiter to get a drink on my tab. If a beer costs 3 EUR at a pub, that's what I'm going to tip, regardless of the money I spend there. When I go with a few friends each of us leaves 3 EUR so the guy get beers from all of us.
 

Japan has a very peculiar culture, or rather ethical standards. They say that tipping is somehow insulting or humiliating. To be honest, I did not understand this issue deeply, but there is such a nuance. At the same time, on the other hand, I heard that this is not an absolute rule. But it should be noted that culture and traditions in Japan are revered very seriously. In a word, you don’t need to say that it’s “not right with tips” or “but in Japan they don’t give tips” - at the beginning it’s worth imbued with their culture and traditions

Not to brag, but to answer a question
USA, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania , Britain, Ireland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Turkey, Egypt, Madagascar, Algeria, Tunisia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Camdoba, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand.. Maybe I missed something 2/3 - tourism, 1/3 - work.

The most memorable - Thailand, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Peru. These countries are the most different from everything I visited.
Although most countries also really liked - nature, culture, cuisine, people ...
The only country where there are ambiguous feelings is Cuba ...
I can’t say that somewhere I was met not hospitably, or hostilely. In Mexico, it was interesting to go on my own outside of Cancun, to "authentic Mexico" and not touristy. A little risky, but a lot of memories

Everything have got some reason. Bartender pouring the drinks seems to be easy. Here he need to make the perfect mix and if you ask for something unique he/she needs to make it for your taste. Above all, he is the only person who can understand well about your drinks limit and give accordingly. Another thing, if you're found dozed he too have responsibility to send you home with safety or take you to the lounge for rest. Being a bartender and receiving tips too got some good reasons 

In part, I have been lucky enough to travel a lot and have visited over 40 countries around the world. And to be honest - not a few restaurants and pubs in those countries where I visited, a certain percentage must be included in the check. As a rule, it is called something like "for service".
I did not specify the scheme of remuneration of waiters, but I will assume that they have a base - the lowest rate, and everything else is just the same "tips" or "payment for service". Therefore, the check you provided is not something surprising!

First of all, A few people saying this optional and not mandatory might not know it's mandatory at many places infact some add it into the bill as Service Charge.

Talking about the flawed logic first, you are absolutely right why should one tip someone what they are assigned to do? Also if they are having low pays out of profits of hotels, it's absolutely the hotel's fault who is charging so much from me and not giving enough to it's waiters or staff. They should correct their business model first. Secondly if this is the criteria there a lot of people who are underpaid even in corporates this way to one should tip everyone after completing their task.

What is your opinion on this?



I've never been to Hawaii, but tipping there seems to be like a must. I can understand parking valets tipping, as they help to save time, concierges - as they solve your problem, porters, as they also have. But a bartender - pouring drinks seems to be their original work, why it should be tipped ?

Welp, most employees do the least amount possible as they can get away with. They are incentivized to be good because there take home will be reflected in money. A shining example is bartending.

Pay them more with no tips (Seattle) and they will be lazy.

When SF did it's number on min wage I stopped tipping in SF. I paid  it already.

So when a breakfast goes from 8.99 to 17.99 due to wages, I stop tipping. They don't get both.

Tipping culture is fine and just as the way it should be. By which I mean not peer-pressured or otherwise pressured upon you. I have no idea why the US demands tips and looks down upon those that do not tip, but says absolutely nothing about how low the hourly wages are. Are restaurant owners in America so broke that they have to coerce the employee's paychecks out of their customers? But then again this is US "culture". I have never witnessed such coercion in Europe. In many Asian countries like Japan, tipping is considered insulting to the waiter/cook/owner.

In my place, usually not pegged to give a tip, just sincerity from us and this is not mandatory. If we are satisfied with the service, we can give a tip, if not giving a tip is fine. But indeed there are some merchants who actually do not recommend giving tips.

However, this seems to be different in some countries where tipping may not be mandatory but has become a habit, so when we don't tip it will look strange or be considered something that is not in accordance with the service.

If these tips are not big enough, it might not be a problem, but if they are big and happen anywhere, indeed this may be an unexpected addition to expenses for foreigners who come to the country.

However, the culture of each country is different, so in my opinion, follow what is in that country so that we become more comfortable. So, I will not justify that it is fair/unfair/true/wrong.

I won't consider myself having a job when my earnings will solely rely on people's generosity and not because I have worked for the money and deserve to be paid. What happens if majority are facing economic crisis and decided to go tipping-less I will be left barely nothing because others are suffering. I honestly don't know why this should be allowed is an advanced country like the United States because it seem like explanation on both customers and workers who have to survive on tips.

You seem to have misinterpreted the tipping, there is no emphasis on giving this, but one can choose who they will give it to.
Restaurants, taxis, delivery people are jobs that offer services, the tendency of people to give tips to these three classes of work is caused by the level of service satisfaction, so people consider it necessary to give a little tip as a reward, but its nature is not as pressure or obligation.

And I don't think tipping the three jobs you mention, because their pay is low, this kind of thing has absolutely nothing to do with tipping.
In fact, I can assure you, the people who tip these workers don't know for sure what their salary is.
The nature of the tip is not a request made by the worker, so there is no reason to refuse a gift. Although this kind of culture is seen as not good in life.

Every worker knows the contents of the contract that is offered when they are accepted at the restaurant, taxi and delivery officer, with the consequence that they are willing to be paid according to the rules set by the company.
If the job doesn't feel right, then I don't think it's necessary to work there, in the area where I live it is very difficult to find work, things like this should not be ignored.

Let's clarify, you most likely do not mean the secretary, but the office manager.
A good secretary costs very good money.

An office manager is a position for young people gaining experience INSIDE THE TEAM. And there the scope of work, schedule, rate are agreed in advance.

But the waiter is a little different. They do not have a guaranteed income, tk. The income of such establishments depends only on the number of visitors. And one of the factors that attract visitors, other things being equal (prices, range of dishes), is the QUALITY of service.

I have several favorite establishments in my city, and I consider it quite normal to leave 10-15% of the bill to the waiter, who: will always find me a table, recommend a new dish according to my taste and preferences, tell me the menu, serve the dish as I like just me, etc. This is already "creative" in his, on the one hand, dull work - come / give / take away.

The same goes for taxi drivers, hotel workers, and so on.

And most importantly - if everyone helps those who need it with a small amount - the world will become a better place :)ter place

If you ever visited the US from other countries, the first thing you may likely notice when you eat at restaurants is that tipping is the unwritten mandatory rule and when you don't tip, guilt is what comes naturally. Maybe because when compared to construction workers, tipping substitutes for a decent salary and waitresses depend on it to make a little better living wage.

Made me use the google translate which it says "Those who give little give from the soul, those who give much give from the goods."
Probably those who give little means its what they can afford to give.  Giving much means they really are rich.

I'm not very aware of the Turkish Culture but what I've learned from a pastor was that "its better to give then to receive." Acts 20:35

Not all crew of restaurants do that though so don't generalize it. There are good people, restore your faith to humanity. 

I think if there is such a possibility, we shouldn't eat at that restaurant. "The possibility of the waiters to put something dirty in my drink" makes me a mentally ill. :) Such a possibility does not disappear with a good tip. I think such a possibility is always extremely dangerous. :)

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I think the topic title is a bit provocative. If we choose more gentle expressions on regional and cultural distinctions, we will protect our common life culture.

I'm not a rich person. When I give a tip, I'm give it by specifying it. There is a word in our lands: Az veren candan, çok veren maldan verir.

People who are not rich have few assets, but their few assets are very valuable for them. It is a great sacrifice to give a small piece from valuable assets. People who are rich have many assets, and their assets are always less valuable for them. It is less sacrifice to give a small piece of less valuable assets.

It was very difficult for me to explain this. I hope it is understood.

This is to bad on service industry since it will just push people to give bad service to those people who they think it will not give any tip in return. So its really not good to give some tip so that the what so called tradition will be stop on this and they trait all people who will dine in on the restaurant fair.

This is not issue about their wages because this is sad part of reality and they should provide good service so that people will be happy on what they experience on the restaurants they eat since all of people deserve fair treatment without giving any compensation to the staff.

Ok, that might be a bad example from me. But what about the job of a secretary and a job of waitress. Both jobs are not highly paid jobs. What a waitress do - get an order, bring order, bring bill, get tips, clear table. What a secretary do - greet customers, lead customers to specific place or person, give little consultations, works with correspondence and etc. Same "rate only job", but no one tips a secretary. In order words, why someone that works for a rate get a tip, others dont. Never seen someone tips janitor for example.

You could actually able to understand on just seeing their facial expressions or just their gestures that they are really expecting something which is that "tip".Some are really that too sensitive when it comes to this

manner.No one could really force you on giving up tips because it is something not that mandatory or obliged on doing so.If you do find yourself get stressed then you shouldnt be dining at all.

We can really feel up somehow that their wages are short or not enough but thats how reality works and there's nothing we can do on that, this is why they are really
longing on getting tips for them at least have something for that day but its not really that necessary honestly.

Yeah, totally broken logic. A sales assistant will spend his time and usually may not result in a sale, but he's not expecting a tip. Certainly, he's probably getting paid more from his employer than a waiter, but how is it any different for us?

Anyway, this isn't my main concern. My main issue is that I'm a middle class citizen. How am I supposed to pay for someone else's wage? With these increasing costs, I can barely afford to eat outside, let alone tip huge amounts. If the service is good, I usually round up to the nearest euro or two.

It seems that the culture of giving tips already exists in many countries and it is indeed a common thing that we often find in everyday life.
So I don't have a problem with that happening, like you said giving tips is not a must for us to do. If indeed we are satisfied with the services
provided, there is nothing wrong with giving rewards to workers by giving a few tips. I also often do it when I eat at a restaurant or stay at a hotel,
I will give tips if I think the service is satisfactory. If I think the service of the worker is bad, I will not give tips, I usually complain to the manager
at the restaurant or hotel I visit. So in my opinion the culture of giving tips is not wrong and should not be eliminated. It is very good to
motivate workers to show their best service to customers.

The difference is that the sales assistant has, as a rule, a direct and understandable motivation. The buyer advised by him, having bought the goods, will automatically form an additional% for him. You should know that in most chain stores, the seller's rate consists of a fixed part and a % of the sales that he "warmed up" with his advice or recommendation. And for example, a hairdresser, taxi driver, waiter - as a rule, there is only a rate, and the subject of a tip is mentioned during employment. In a word, the reason for the presence of tips is the peculiarities of the formation of the wage fund. In many restaurants / pubs / cafes, a % is necessarily included in the check to pay for the work of waiters.

PS. But if you don't like the service, you have the right not to pay a tip

I don't live in the USA but giving tips is also common in my country, it is like rewarding people who do their job more than they are required to do, or if we know for ourselves that they have been outstanding to provide us with a better service we deserve. I usually give tips only when I know I troubled the staff too much with too many question or we know the price that I paid is too low for the item or service done. It is not required but it can help a bit to the staff. It will still depend on us, we are not required to give tip especially if we feel they don't deserve it or the price we already pay for the item is already high to cover their service.

that's true, not only in western countries, but also in Asia where I live, things like that are commonplace or have become a habit,
and it is very difficult to change, because it has become a habit that is inherent in everyone.

and you ask why no manual laborer gives tips,
maybe the reason,
their work is sometimes underestimated,
maybe their work lacks social interaction with the public, such as construction workers or construction workers, they don't interact much with people around, because their work is focused on what they are facing and other people are reluctant to interfere with their work.

while jobs such as restaurant waiters and the like, they perform services directly, face to face,
and that's why they often get tips.

The biggest difference is, if someone does a bad job at any other business, they would be either fired, or warned, or just ignored, but in any job that you are required to get a tip to survive, if you do a bad job, or if the customer is cheap, you are going to end up starving because you are not getting paid enough. That’s the thing, in my nation we have tipping too, it's not as "culture" as it is in the USA for example, and the guy who gets it, gets paid the same amount that 20%+ of our nation does, and that means any guy at a factory making your shirt is getting the same money.

West needs to realize that you can't have a job in the world that says "you either do a good job and good tips, or you are going hungry to bed tonight", that’s not acceptable.

I am not against tipping either, but sometimes it is hard to understand the culture, why one employee class should or must be tipped, but others dont. For example I can go to an electric appliance store and get a 30min consultation, then other guy involved, that will get my item from warehouse to cash desk, and I am not suppose to tip those two. But it is a good manner to tip a guy that will deliver a pizza for me. He will just pick up pizza and give it to me. Two employees perhaps get same $/hour rate, but in first case I think it is ok to give consultant some tips, because his knowledge and experience was useful. But in second case, why should I give tips of guys work is basically walking or driving. I am confused.

I don't live in the US, but I have heard of their tipping culture and it's becoming a must every time people will pay for dine in or avail for such services.

But it seems that most workers are expecting tips even if the customers are not comfortable giving that to them and hasn't received good service from them.

It should be out of kindness and voluntarily because they're paid to do their job and whoever started it making it as a responsibility as a customer, well, it's on you folks if you're feeling that you want to give the tip, give it. However, it should not really be a mandatory.

I think that tipping goes well beyond food and catering businesses in the USA. You're expected to tip your hairdressers, assistance employees, taxi drivers, beauty salons. It's a generally widespread practice. While I'm not against tipping a reasonable amount of money if the service was great, charging huge amounts of over 15-25% is outrageous.

Dining outside and services are generally a lot more expensive in the U.S. compared to Europe, and especially Greece in my case. Dinner for two ranges from 25-40 euros here. Most I've spent is about there, in the U.S. though, it's way more than that, and you also have to pay sales tax if I'm not mistaken and to leave an approximate 20% tip.

I find it hard to understand tipping culture like it is in US. For example two situations, you order your menu at the McDonalds, go to the table and wait for a guy to bring your food. And you go to any restaurant of café, make an order and wait similarly for the food. In first case the guy brings you food, and maybe a balloon for your kid. In the second case also a person simply brings you food, but expect 10-20% tip. Both of them get more or less similar hourly payment. Both of them run here and there whole day, but a waiter gets tipped, McDonalds employee dont.

I dont understand the idea of tipping a bartender. He can cheat you with pouring less, he can give you dead beer for example (no bubbles, or give a glass filled half with foam), he can even bring his own bottle of whiskey (I've seen such guys) and in general sell this bottle 5x its cost (you buy 15-20 EUR worth whiskey bottle, sell each 50ml drink for 5-7 EUR). Not all bartenders are like that, but I've seen how bartenders cheat on drunk people and receive tips from them...

I think it only depends on the person maybe some are like you who feel pressured to tip them but for me no I didn't feel that way. Like you said it was their job and they are already earning or being paid to do it so there is no need to tip them. They also don't forced us. For me, I do gave tips sometimes if I have extra money and if I feel generous at the same time.

If we are talking only about restaurants, well I believe not all restaurants are the same who abuse their employers but there must be some who pays enough. I know some restaurants who even disallow tips and for this to be effective, the employees' pockets must be closed and they are being frisked by guards before they go out.

And file a case if you found someone doing that since its really hazardous for your health if someone do that in purpose and for sure this doings will get busted since there's no wrong doings will continue.

But I don't think those restaurant staff will do it just for the tip and maybe they will do this nasty act because they don't like the behavior of their costumer.

Well if they do that then don't eat at their fucking joint in the first place.

You get tips for being good to customers. If you act like an asshole to them then how do you expect to keep your job without customers?

I believe that tipping culture of USA is wrong from the default but it’s the minimum wage that is the trouble. It has been the same price for so so so long that if you worked 8 hours a day for 5 days, you would be earning enough to just starve, nothing more.

The minimum wage could be increased, and that way we would find a way where with or without tips people would live a decent life at least. Just because we say "if they can get away with paying minimum wage, they will" and be fine with that, we need to definitely considering paying a lot more, and I mean like x3 of what it is right now because 7.5 is too little, something around 20 would be a lot better.

It's just weird though why we have to give tips because of the peer pressure but they never really think it broadly like you tip the waiter in an expensive restaurant but when you go to the public market you ask for discount? That's just so wrong right there and it clearly shows that they tip according to the social status or they are showing that they could tip because they have money but couldn't tip the vendors in public market. smh

Yes ,it’s need to think differently every things.We are giving them a  tips from our pocket for the social status.But it’s not a compulsory one,you can avoid of such things on your side.If any people think wrong about you,why you are worry about it.It’s their problem and not your problem.Let them hate you for that,you no need to worry for that things apart.

I don't think that's the case here. But pizza delivery guys are using their company vehicles in most cases.
But it may be different on his area. Maybe, he is talking about 3rd party riders as they do really use their own vehicles.
Owed to pandemic, third party riders are now very common as you can access them in different delivery apps.
But when it comes to tipping, it is still up to you if you will give them or not. If you're not in the mood, or has no extra money, then don't.
Tipping should be a voluntary one and should be happy doing it. But if it is against your will, better not give it.

Firstly, tipping culture is followed in literally every single country in the world. Secondly, tipping pressure varies depending on the business itself. Thirdly, it all comes down to whether you are willing to tip or not.

Some people succumb to peer pressure and end up tipping while some others don't give a crap about any sort of pressure and only tip when they truly want to.

Blaming western countries for introducing the tipping culture is seriously silly since it actually does more good than bad overall.

I don't know a place where tips becomes compulsory. In fact, I've heard of the opposite of some nations although I can't present any crucial evidence to support at the moment but, I know a local security company in my country where, tips are not allowed. Either given by the staff to a fellow staff or customer to another staff. It's one way to control bias by the company within its staff not to turn a blind eye at an unbecoming practice out of favouritism.
That way, you've got nothing to gain or lose in carrying out your duty in all justification.

Tips are given freely and it would be wrong to be forced to tip after paying your service charges. There is no social pressure there except the one you give yourself. If you feel you should then, you should otherwise, don't.

This time around some service providers are relying on this alot to make extra pay on the side and it is funny how the expectation for tipping is going high. Some workers in eateries will salute you at the door way to expect you to drops something for them and if you don't do that you be surprise the next time visit the salute you get won't be cordial like the first. Right inside too is same when the waiter is giving out food there is expectation of keeping over the balance  I also see the ladies in the service do have high expectation to get some tipp from the men.

Are you saying pizza delivery workers use their own personal vehicle and fuel it to do delivery for the company? I find it hard to believe. What happens if you don't have a personal vehicle? Does that mean you will not be able to work as a delivery service since the company won't provide it.
Why would anyone take up such job just for tips that may not account for what you spend doing the job. That's absurd.

You can’t blame the modern societies for doing that and it’s not that bad act if you ask me. The tipping is everywhere, from highly developed modern countries to developing to third world countries.
If you really want to blame and want to know why this has happened then go ahead and read following linked research paper. There is full scope of it.

History: It started in England


It all started as social norm, so that it can improve the quality of service that you get.
It’s not at all mandatory considering the modern day convention.


The history of tipping - From sixteenth-century England to United States in the 1910s

I don't know about tipping in any other country than the US, and to the best of my knowledge restaurants aren't required to pay the servers a minimum wage (and someone correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll have to re-read this thread to see if anyone has since I mentioned it before).  And if they don't have to, they're not going to, especially since the practice of tipping has become so entrenched in American culture.

Food delivery drivers also expect to be tipped, and I'm not sure if their employers pay them at least minimum wage.  Anyway, I would disagree with you that the economy is so bad that people can't afford to tip.  If that were the case, they probably wouldn't be eating at restaurants, taking taxis, ordering food, etc.  This isn't the first time money has been tight, and it won't be the last.

It was actually meant to ensure that the low end job workers do their job diligently, for they will  provide good services for good tips. However these days, the inflation has become so high that customers can't afford to pay tips after giving bills. Also owners are not ready to cut down their profits. Leaving little room for workers.. I believe it's high time owners need to be more responsible for needs of their workers. Customers can't carry this burden.

In some parts it can turn violent if you dont leave a tip, its considered a grand personal insult to the business.  I could never eat at somewhere like that as it would too easily lead to misunderstandings, I did leave a small tip once when I was minimum wage myself and I had no money and it was taken as a big insult.   It is a strange system for most that it could become obligatory and required, I think the guideline is 20% or you will considered to have left without paying the full bill hence the possible violence.
   This is hard to put in words, like I say its on the customer to understand the custom of the land and people they are visiting but heres a video of an upset chef turning violent just for example not that Im saying most people have this bad a temper but I avoid the whole system personally to avoid any possible insult: dont watch with a weak heart nsfw

The process of tipping can be connected to the culture, it can be a support to the staff, and it can be anything. End of the day it should not pressure the consumer.

Initially tipping is the small contribution for the service being provided and to spread happiness to the one served. Later it turned to be a status sign, and this is where people started to tip. I don't know about the western nations, and I'm about my country. This ended up with expectation of tips on service. Now it is a pressure for consumer and the service variation can be found as one of the user mentioned.
I loved the way the tip is being shared among the staffs, because it'll not pressure the consumer as well as gives equal distribution based on what they got as tip throughout the day.

I joined some tour before, and I can say that tipping is mandatory and it also happens in Asian countries, I don’t know why but many workers is getting more motivated as they get extra money for themselves. I believe it should not be mandatory and we should only give tips if we are satisfied about their services. I wonder if they are now accepting crypto for their tips.

To be honest, if you know the things, you can't really blame the employee employed in the service business aka tipped employees. It was mainly because how US states allow minimum hourly wages for that service is very low. Heck, as low as $2.63 in Arkansas. This puts the employer aka business owner takes full use of it, by putting the burden to pay his employees on customers. Yes, when you go to a restaurant/service establishment, your tips are the main income for those people working at these, waiters/waitresses and even cooks. Link below if you want to check out, from state to state.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped

This makes the price on the menu become a false advertisement and so confusing since your tip is actually MANDATORY at 20%. Lower than that, you're being seemed as stealing the people's hard earn money at the day. The owner gave no fucks. This is what they want, to put the fight between employees and customers while prices on the menu are a placeholder. The whole US tipping culture is cancerous and I'm glad more and more businesses start to pay their employee in full instead. They just need to increase the cost of the dish to 20% to cover that. Employees expect to be professional at a certain level to earn their keep. And no chance you get spits in your food if you had a history of bad tipping. More people start to go to those places instead of 'tip but mandatory' craps.

It isn't like the tipping culture come to die. You can still tip if you want. This is more in line with how the rest of the world use tipping. $48.5 bill? Keep the charge from $50 since you're lovely. I think only US and Canada which mandatory tipping culture is still relevant. Other Anglo countries like Australia, New Zealand and UK don't have this shit. Same with the EU, Japan, SEA,... You can tip if you want but never mandatory. NEVER.

Well, I feel the OP is really running a debate, in favour of manual labourers. But I would love to know if the OP is a manual labourer, or have been one before or has anyone who is because it seems it's from a personal experience this question was asked. Well tipping I'm sure isn't a must and most times, the people you mentioned, especially those waitresses feel so entitled to you tipping especially after buying something of great price or mostly on a date.

I also feel the more reason manual labourers aren't tipped is because of their work environment and the nature of their job as you don't expect someone randomly to just walk to an uninvited construction site just to go tip someone because his doing a job possibly for someone you don't know. Well in a country like Nigeria I believe people will read so many fetish meanings to the kind act you just rendered and if anything negative happens after that at the site, you might definitely be held responsible.

Most times I also think this tipping is mostly done by male customers to the female workers and in most cases for a well rendered service. I personally do tip people if I'm well treated and very satisfied with the services rendered to me.

I can't say about other countries, but here every employees have to receive a minimum wage imposed by the federation, so if a business owner wants to hire someone, he must fulfill this requirement, under the risk of being punished if he doesn't register the employee accordingly.

So I conclude waiters, carriers, delivery guys are being paid like every other workers of the country, but they still receive voluntary tips from customers, because it is part of the etiquette and an expression of kindness with someone who was kind to you when doing his job. I believe you can motivate the worker, show gratitude and respect for his good work by doing this, although some nice and polite words can have the same effect without being necessary to give extra money.

After all, it is up to each customer to decide giving tips or not. The culture isn't totally unfair and wrong, because you aren't being forced into it.

And I don't really believe in tipping culture because the minimum wage they receive doesn't match the work they do.
The most likely assumption, that tipping is a person's culture after seeing the maximum service provided by workers, so people think that they deserve a tip. Although many people judge the culture is not too good to be applied.

I remember the taxi driver I used to ride with, the driver in question really gave a pretty good service, I unconsciously tipped the taxi driver so sincerely. This analogy actually depends on customer service needs, and when someone decides to give a tip, it is a sign that the level of satisfaction with the service provided is maximized.

I don't understand the tipping culture in the U.S. Why aren't restaurants paying at least the minimum wage, so their waiters can live comfortably in combination with the tips they receive? Waiters are basically costing the employer nothing. It's ridiculous that workers are putting up with it. What if everybody stopped tipping? Especially now, with the increased living costs and the already inflated prices of the U.S., adding another 20% to your bill every time you dine outside is excessive.

Honestly, I'd be pissed if I had to spend another $20 just to eat outside. Why are people, both workers and customers putting up with such a stupid culture?

I'd like to point out that those restaurant guys wouldn't know if you're going to tip them or not until after you've eaten your food (unless you're referring to repeat customers known to be non-tippers).  In any case, that made me chuckle.  I don't think that's a serious risk in restaurants in the US, because it would have to be the server doing it, and there's usually too much visibility for them to get away with it.  Not saying it's impossible, just unlikely.

Speaking of the restaurant industry, those servers don't even make minimum wage IIRC and depend on tips to make up for the difference.  I'm not sure how that system came about, but it's a pretty messed up one if you ask me.  Taxi drivers I'm not certain about, and honestly I'm not a big fan of tipping anyone.  You pay for a service, that's the way it should be.  Giving money voluntarily (but being expected to) in addition to that rubs me the wrong way and always has.

Atleast 20% of the bill will be paid as tip in the restaurant generally and this has been in practice for very long time so even if a foreigner doesn't follow it they will treat you in the low level but we can't do anything and its not really mandatory to give tips, it just the own choice. And you're right the owner took more advantage of this practice and pay very less salary so government can only regulate this by following minimum wage policy all over the country to reduce it.

Interesting points. I think tipping is a historical and cultural practice leftover from past eras.

Its also not handled well by the state. Business owners are often taxed on the wages they pay employees, in addition to a tax on tips employees receive. Its a significant obstacle to overcome, which caused many businesses to shut down or declare bankruptcy. Especially during COVID lockdowns in the global pandemic.

Tips are one segment of the market that cryptocurrencies have not been able to break into. Cash based solutions will likely always rule the roost when it comes to tips.

Maybe an altcoin that can be exchanged through smartphones by moving them within close proximity of each other, could be a decent format. Assuming someone hasn't already done it.

I work at restaurant before and mostly the tip will not go directly to us staff but rather it will go to the tip box then the whole kitchen staff will divide so that all of the workers who work for the food will get equal. but I don't know about the other but for me I really discourage to give this nor implement this because sometimes this will cause costumer profiling and some staffs will not entertain those costumer who think that they will not give them a tip. But this is case to case basis and depends on the environment where you work at.

I explain - everything that you have listed is a service-oriented business. I’ll clarify - there are services with a clear price list, for example:
- salon
- manicure / pedicure
- massage
- filling stations
- delivery
etc.
Those. these are services where the cost is known in advance and there are no noticeable additional costs.
But for example, services such as:
- taxi
- waiter
- hotel worker
etc. similar is a service where there is a basic cost and a real additional one. Let me explain - for example, a taxi driver. Maybe just drive up and wait for you to sit down, open the trunk yourself, put your suitcases. BUT! The taxi driver can help you! Open the door for you, take your luggage and carefully put it in the trunk. And when you arrive - get your luggage, open the door for you, help you get out, and carry your luggage to the airport doors.
Or a waiter - serves you a table (even in a pub), completes your order as quickly as possible, gives a recommendation on the selection of the main course or snacks, and offers new items. And if you are a regular customer, he will recommend, knowing your taste, drink, snack, dish. Or book a seat for you.
And it costs a little - usually about 10% +/- of the check amount! But you will get the maximum level of service, pleasant attitude, and good mood!
In addition, you will help this person, with a small amount, who does not have a large fixed rate. BUT - he, with this money, will buy your goods, services ... Or your parents ... Or your brother / sister .. Or your son / daughter. This is how the economy and social community work

It is really just a voluntary act!

Agree on what you had said that it is really an amount which it might not that big but showing off your appreciation on what they have done.
Even my wife do really make out argumentation on giving tips which she had said that they are paid on their work and its not necessary on giving some tips.
I just smirked and tell her that it isnt really that much for you to brag on.Its good that you do able to help at least on small amount for the
work that they had done.

I live in a country where tipping is part of the culture but I agree with this, a tip should be optional and only be given when the service was great, otherwise we encourage bad service by giving money away which was not deserved, now that being said where I live people in the service industry really make an effort to try to earn that tip, so while I give a tip more often than I would like they do their best to deserve to get that extra money.

It's a huge issue in the United States. Not only is everything expensive and overpriced, especially if you're from Europe for vacations, for instance, but you're also expected to tip over 10-20% of the total bill just because of the broken tipping culture in the U.S. Restaurants are not paying their staff a living wage, and it is expected of customers to pay their workers' salaries. What kind of messed up logic is that? It's not mandatory in Greece either, but you can round up to the nearest 0 or 5, for example, if the service was decent (paying 50 instead of 47, etc.). It's solely up to you. I don't think it's a huge issue in the western world, but only in the U.S.

The only places I was asked to tip were two restaurants in Poland, Krakow, when I visited for vacation. In one of them, the waiter went ahead and asked me if I could give him a tip, which was a bit strange, but since he was extremely polite and caring, I didn't mind. I wouldn't sit around and make a fuss about it on my holiday. In the latter, they went ahead and charged a small "service charge" of a few Polish Zloty. It was approximately a euro or two, max. The waiter informed me about it, but the service was decent and while I didn't like the forced tipping, I wasn't going to make a scene for a euro or two.

So you are pertaining that we should give tip on manual labors? Of course the venue or place would be entirely be a huge factor on why these people had been given tips.
They are on those places where the crowd or people been hanging out which means that they are on the nearest place for them to be approach compared into those constructions which is working on
places where it is hazardous or something that people cant go nor stay with.So its just common sense.

I do get your point though but tipping isnt really that necessary.Its a personal choice or will because tipping does correlate on having good impression or appreciation
on what that certain worker had been done into you specially if its a nice one and did really give good overall experience.

You should not conflate the tipping culture in America with the tipping culture in somewhere like Europe, as the two are vastly different. I haven't even been to America recently, but you can judge from TV shows that they essentially vastly underpay workers in certain sectors and require it to be topped up by this enforced tipping culture. If you're a service worker, you've already got a tough enough job without having to go over the top and act ridiculously kind in order to make a minimum wage, it just makes the whole situation so faked. Europe on the other hand, tipping is very much optional in most situations, certainly not expected or demanded like it is in the USA. Some situations may even cause offense at the suggestion and get it rejected.

There is no compulsion in giving tip to waiters at restaurants , this is just a goodwill gesture on your behalf. So I dnt feel it wrong ,yes little unfair for the workers in different sectors as tipping culture is just restricted to restaurants.  Everyone deserves extra income or benefits for their services .

This culture is not compulsory or mandatory. You still have a choice whether to tip them or not because tipping those who provide good services is just a simple act of kindness and consideration. You're lucky if you are the one who gives tips than the one who is asking for them. It shouldn't be a burden for you because the tip that you're giving them is already a big help. If it's against your will then just avoid this practice. It isn't against the law though. Some laborers are trying to look for better opportunities to earn better but still get unlucky getting one. Not everyone could have the same opportunity as others have so we should be considerate in simple ways. Some laborers are risking their lives just to provide good service in exchange for a minimum salary so we should be kind towards them.

In any structure of life the tip is not mandatory, people do things based on the responsibility of the party providing the work, overall I can't confirm the truth like the post you made, because we don't live in the area.
However, I often see giving tips to any employee, based on the assistance given to consumers, even though the culture is categorized as not good, but that's how someone appreciates the help given by workers in any place.

Most of the jobs you've mentioned offer services which is why people tip them to be able to receive great service and avoid receiving bad service, especially in restaurant service. We all know what happens to our food when we are either rude to our waiters or if we don't provide tips to them. Also, those who work on construction also gets tips from their clients however some of them already add it on the pay slip. However, those who work by contract usually don't get tipped as they get paid on time and some of them usually add a service charge of 10% on the pay slip.

These kinds of tipping culture from western countries especially from the USA has gone way back and it's already a tradition to pay at least 10% for the service that you receive.

I do agree that people from some western countries are overdoing it (at least compared to us in Europe) and its not fair that some don't get tips (like for example people that work in McDonald's) but to simply put, you gotta be good with the people that bring you food! At least that's how I look at it, but maybe that's because food is very high on my priority list lol and I eat at the restaurant at least few times per week.


Don't know about you, but in 99% of the cases I tip both my barber and delivery guys (extra bonus if weather is shitty), even though I try not to order if weather is bad (like heavy rain).


Technology is adapting to that as well and in some apps (for example Wolt) you can simply chose the tip if you are paying with card. Whether delivery guys actually get the tip is another question and for that reason I am always paying with cash so I can be sure that they get the tip.


We live in the same country (AFAIK) and both me and all my friends usually tip delivery guys (unless they fuck up which is rare) so I wouldn't say that is uncommon around here, even before Wolt/Glovo and all the other 3rd party services that are popular now.

I do think so too, the tipping culture only enables the capitalistic institution to continue ignoring the plight of the working class to increase the minimum wage and help those people not worry about tipping as a means to gain an advantage in life. It's going to be difficult to remove this culture though as there are some people that are so used to it and benefits big time to it that are going to defend it.

Maybe it's like that in the country where you live, but here where I live, every delivery person has an official pizzeria/fast food vehicle and a normal salary. Therefore, your attitude towards how delivery people should be treated is completely opposite to mine - although in recent years, food delivery in my country has changed because they are delivered by young people on bicycles/electric scooters for companies that have appeared as intermediaries between fast food chains and customers.

I'm not a fan of fast food, so I don't use such services, but when I see these young people delivering in all weather conditions, I would be very happy to give them a tip in addition to what they will officially receive for each delivery.

Who limits you from tipping the builder? Let's be bold. And why are you counting other people's money? It's a poor man's speech, but the tip also serves as a help for the waiters and all the wait staff. I don't see any problem, and I always leave it for a tip. Read the parable "The Boy and Ice Cream" on the Internet; it speaks of a person's culture.

I don't understand as well. If the industry doesn't pay well enough, shouldn't there be lobbyists that will help the plight of the workers that are "underpaid" and needs to receive tips to compensate? I understand there is nothing mandatory about it, but the fact that this culture is so spread far and wide in the United States makes a foreign visitor feel bad and ashamed that he/she will be forced to tip even if it's out of the budget. Then again, perhaps it's a form of a personal and direct acknowledgment on a job well done for the server, the driver, or whomever that did something for you, and I'm okay with that. But there are some exceptions though. There are restaurants there in the US that make it seem like tips are mandatory and doesn't directly give the tips to those who actually did the service for their customers. That's just straight up hustling the workers and being greedy for the restaurant's operations managers part, and I guess that's what ticks people off in the tipping culture there in the US.

The manual laborer is also part of this culture of tipping because he will do the same like all is well for him and tomorrow he is in the rag clothes and doing the laborer job again. Is this not the way that the society is finding herself to believe the workers in service industry to be rewarded for the service they done. If the laborer is guilty to this every sector is guilty. The owners of business believe that they do not do too many jobs and running on shifting may be reason for low salary to them.

Tipping is not in the rules and it is all done according to the will of the giver. Even if there are rules about tips, don't they all mean things that are mandatory to give? Moreover, this is a cultural problem where culture is thick with western habits, they do it because it is considered a form of concern. If we look at the other side of the construction workers, of course they rarely even never interact with customers or provide services. Let's say they work in the open field, conditions that never bring in customers to serve.

That's why I said REMEMBER. because the 2nd time around. You get get what you deserve.
The more you behave well if you are in the fastfood restaurant because you pay first in this restaurant.

Taxi driver's are from the city and they know well where the criminals are. When I go to a new city, its always the taxi driver that I ask where to go if I wanted something done.  They are good to be friend with.

so.  lets try something else.

Pizza delivery driver.   95% of these people use there own car own gas own insurance 100% there own risk.  

Most dont even get a salary.  Accident rate among pizza drivers is high due to the nature of the job.  

They get to pay for their own gas, oil change which is about once a month due to the very high mileage  brakes tires ball joints tie rods most of that is once a year, brakes twice.  If they live in snowy regions then add Winter tires to that added costs.

Pizza car maintenance is high.   Many don't bother and buy utter crap and drive it in to the ground.   Can be cheaper to replace crap car with another crap car then to fix them.  So they also get to spend time replacing the car.  


Tip your fucking driver!  Be happy hes even working!   He might even be an asshole but he gets to deal with shitheads all day long on the road and at the door.  saying to him... but you got your delivery fee right?

Some professions in Western countries have simply attached to them an additional way of earning through tips, so although it is somewhat understandable to me that a man who is in a good mood and celebrating something in a restaurant or cafe rewards the waiter with a tip (because it is not an easy job as some think), when it comes to delivery or barbershops/hairdressing salons, tips don't really fit in there.

However, with more and more digital payments, I think that the situation is changing and that tips will slowly become a thing of the past - because if you pay by card, then you pay the exact amount for the service, and the waiter or delivery person will have to accept that times have changed and not expect a tip.

However, if we consider payment with Bitcoin, tips could still remain part of the culture, but that would mean that everyone should adapt to new technologies. If you pay your bill with LN, then theoretically you could tip the waiter the same way, which wouldn't be a bad promotion for Bitcoin as a currency.

I have never visited a restaurant in my entire life and I don't use food delivery services.
What's the point of visiting restaurants nowadays? Just buy food and learn to cook.
I don't use food delivery services because I'm not lazy enough to just sit in my home, instead of going to the store and buy some food.
I've never lived in a western country and I don't know about such "social pressure" of giving tips to waitresses and food delivery people.
Maybe there is such social pressure, but giving tips shouldn't be mandatory. The restaurant industry is really competitive and the profits margins are low, so the restaurant owners give low salaries to the waitresses. Perhaps in the not-so-distant future, the waitresses will be replaced by robots, so the customers won't have to give tips.

In my country, this culture is not widespread as many restaurants give a fixed tariff in the bill and all you have to do is pay that bill, even giving a tip to the waitress is considered a strange thing or an attempt by the person to woo her.

The same thing is related to the delivery worker, as the delivery company takes a percentage and you are the one who pays the money of the delivery worker, not the company, as there is a fixed amount for each kilometre.

I can't confirm your statement that "social pressure to leave tips" exists in the US & CA since I don't live there. But, assuming that it's correct, I disagree with this culture. A tip shouldn't be mandatory, but as a gratitude for great service other than simply saying "thank you." Before thinking about it deeply, I was sold on the idea that giving tip money is always good and felt good about it. But the days of me tipping is over. Now, in most cases, I only say thanks and save the tip money for other purchases in the same shop if I like their service, or tipping if the service gets extra personal. It's the best way to keep the business run and profitable. Tip money is an unnecessary overhead that can make a business less profitable in the long run and generally get a bad customer experience. Hence, many service companies now ban tipping for the same reason in the country I reside.

As you stated in your topic title, it's the culture, i.e, way of life of the people there. Same way there are places where it's rude to tip, places where strangers are welcomed easily without questions and so on.
Culture as a whole doesn't take on a practical approach, it's more traditional and historical, and while there are many cultures which are not generally acceptable, stopping them is a hassle.

To be sure, do you pay the bill at a restaurant before you order or after you're done?
I'm used to it being paid after, so except you are a regular at a particular place, they would not suspect whether or not you're going to tip.

Its not mandatory but we're used to it already.
And its also because the guys in the restaurant will remember you don't give tips to them, they will spit and piss on your drink which I'm sure you won't like it.  This is why I also give tips to some waiters who will serve me on a restaurant because I've seen it first hand what they did to someone's food.

Seem unfair indeed. But for construction crew, it should be the foreman that has to give the tip.

This is something that I can't still understand, why is there so much pressure to tip in restaurant, in taxi, tip to the delivery guy, etc.
They are doing their job, right? If they are getting low salary from the company and can't live without tips, that's not my fault. The business model that restaurants have is that they pay very low salaries to their employees and get most of the profit in their own pocket. Why is it socially accepted in western countries? Especially in the USA and Canada? Instead of social pressure to leave tips, why isn't there pressure on business owners to pay them more? Why is it socially accepted that pig businessman should get high profit, work his employees on low wage and the customer should compensate it?

Why do we tip people who work in restaurant, delivery, barbershop, etc instead of people who work in constructions? I have never seen anyone tipping to someone who works as a manual laborer. Do you guys really think that manual labor is easier than being a waitress? Or a delivery guy? Or do you think that they are paid higher? Manual laborers are working very hard with very little wages, their wages can be smaller than the wages of people in service industry. Also, working in manual labor is very dangerous for health and most of them have health problem while they aren't offered insurance and other benefits.
It's unfair that people in service industry are tipped but people in manual labor - not. And if the manual laborer somehow managed to go in restaurant, some shit waitress will get mad if he won't tip her.