Tipping has become the norm or even the expectation for most industries, especially in the U.S. Tips are an optional or extra payment that customers give to employees as a reward or courtesy for performing a service.
Leaving a tip is a large part of America’s service culture, and many workers rely on tips to survive. A 20% tip is generally the standard—anything less is considered a bad tip, while no tip at all is regarded as rude.
The overall purpose of tipping is to express a person’s gratitude. However, over the years, some workers have taken advantage of tips by tipping themselves an absurd amount without informing the customer.
The original intent behind tipping is a nice gesture of appreciation, but recently they have become an obligation or a sense of duty. Obviously they are not required, but the option to tip has become unnecessarily integrated into stores, creating undesired and awkward situations.
After the pandemic, tipping culture has immensely changed, especially with the appearance of digital kiosks at checkouts. Kiosks have guilt tripped customers into tipping even when there was minimal service provided.
I believe tips should be given to those who provide a laborious service which includes sit down restaurants, cosmetic appointments, food delivery, and other acts of that nature rather than businesses where the customer serves themselves.
According to The Standard, “Tipped workers are turning up to their jobs without knowing how much they will earn from that specific shift, causing not only financial strain and uncertainty but also a strain on workers’ mental health.”
Tipping culture also has a severe effect on service workers as well. Although some workers depend or rely on tips to live, their employers should be held responsible for paying their workers a fair wage rather than hindering customers.
I can acknowledge that there are some circumstances where one may feel compelled to tip, and that is great, but not every situation or place calls for it. If a person is giving you a service, then one should feel the need to tip. But their tip is also reflected through the workers’ attitude and performance.
Tipping is meant to be an act of appreciation rather than an expectation. Nonetheless, how you choose to spend your money is your choice, but customers should not feel pressured to leave a tip.
