As someone who has worked in the service industry, I believe that tipping in the United States is important. The United States does not have universal high wages. Although your perceptions of the United States may be different, if you’re traveling in the United States, you generally need to tip. Keep reading for tipping etiquette in the United States!
This post was contributed by Michelle. Michelle is a first generation American who has been to every state. She writes on her blog about adventure, cruises, and dogs. The beach, afternoon tea, and Rothy’s Points are a few of her favorite things.
Contents
- 1 Tipping Etiquette in the US
- 2 How Tipping Started in the United States
- 3 The American Tipping Culture & It’s Evolution
- 4 US Tipping Etiquette defined for travelers
- 5 How Much Travelers Should Tip in the US
- 6 Tipping at cafes and bars in the US
- 7 Tipping at restaurants in the United States
- 8 …What if you have bad service?
- 9 Any questions about tipping in the United States?
Tipping Etiquette in the US
Here in the United States, tipping is the standard way of doing things for us. For the most part, we don’t think even about it. It’s automatic to us. Especially at restaurants, when the bill arrives, it is just something we expect to add before we pay the check.
Of course, the tipping culture of the United States is very different from that of most other countries. In many European countries, tipping is minimal. However, tipping etiquette in the United States is an outlier, due to the way that the United States operates.
Just last month, when my husband and I were in London, a nice couple we were chatting with said, “We just never expected to travel to New York to spend $100 on a nice meal and then have to pay extra tips on top of it.”
I admit, wholeheartedly, that those of us here in the US need to do a better job of explaining why we tip. And, how it has become such a huge part of our culture. We need to explain the etiquette of US tipping to those traveling within the United States instead of expecting it to be more widely known.
How Tipping Started in the United States
If you read our history books, you will find stories about Americans learning about and using tipping methods soon after the civil war. Various history texts say that this was something wealthy new Americans learned from their British peers.
Interestingly, for the average new America in those days, tipping was a very polarizing concept. So much so that organizations, such as the ‘Anti-Tipping Society of America,’ existed in the south to discourage the practice being spread throughout the newly formed states.
Eventually, the practice of tipping became formalized across the United States in the
Today, in 2020, the minimum wage for those working positions defined by the law, such as those working entry-level roles in restaurants and bars, is still $2.13/hr. (Note: This varies by state, however, the idea is that employees who work for tips are forced to earn their wages from customers’ tips. ) Meaning, for those working full time in these positions, their total weekly salary is only $85.20. The rest of their income is solely from tips.
The American Tipping Culture & It’s Evolution
Given that the law standardized tipping in the US almost 60 years ago, tipping became ingrained in our culture. So much so, that tipping for ‘great service,’ has expanded beyond just tipping those in restaurants and bars. Well, more than just expanded. It has evolved.
Now, Americans expect to tip for any personal service we receive, regardless of the rate of pay of the service provider. For example, hair stylists, tattoo artists, animal groomers, and massage therapists are highly skilled service providers that earn a much higher salary than that of entry-level service personnel. Still, we tip these individuals for their service.
Likewise, when we receive any type of on-demand delivery to our homes, such as food or furniture, or receive housekeeping or other such services, we tip. If we have a tire changed, turn our luggage over to a skycap at the airport, or take a taxi, we tip.
US Tipping Etiquette defined for travelers
This is tricky, but I would stick to these general rules of thumb. If you enjoy a sit-down meal, or drinks at a bar or lounge, expect to tip. If you request anything delivered to you (from a restaurant or room service), expect to tip. If you take a car service, taxi, or rideshare, expect to tip.
If you receive assistance with luggage at a hotel or at the airport, expect to tip a few dollars. If you take a formalized tour, expect to tip, If you use any spa, hail, or nail services, expect to tip. If you’re staying at a hotel, expect to tip housekeeping.
However, if you are picking up an order, just receive the kindness of a stranger, or take public transportation, do not expect to tip. Similarly, you do not generally don’t tip if you get fast food or you’re at a restaurant with self-service.
How Much Travelers Should Tip in the US
My recommendation here is to use our standard protocols for tipping as a traveler in the US. For the most part, tipping for most things is pretty straightforward, though a few situations require calculations.
When tipping for travel services received, such assistance with luggage, transportation, or food delivery, expect to tip a few dollars for each service received. Typically, you should expect to tip about $2-5 per car ride, turning over of luggage, or day of housekeeping.
If you are staying at a hotel, leave a few dollars daily as the housekeeper will change regularly and their wages are also quite low. It should be noted that service charges imposed by hotels are not given to waiters or maids. Similarly, if you leave a tip on the last day at a hotel for a housekeeper, it won’t be distributed among the staff. (Click for hotel tips from a former housekeeper!)
If you take a tour, expect to tip $1/hr per person. For example, if you take a 5-hour tour as a couple, you would expect to tip $5+$5, or $10. If it’s a multi-day tour, 5-10% of the tour price is a good rule.
For most other things, expect to tip on a percentage of the total spent as you tip. This applies to a spa service or beauty service. The standard rate of gratuity is 15%, great service is 18%, and excellent service is 20+%.
Tipping at cafes and bars in the US
When tipping for drinks at a lounge or bar, expect to tip at least $1-2 per round per drink. (The simple act of tipping with your drink will ensure that the bartender comes back to you faster next round!)
If you are with a larger group (4+ people), expect to tip a bit more as you are requiring additional service for each round of drinks. For a couple enjoying 2 rounds of drinks, a tip of $2-$4 is expected.
If you’re at a cafe with table service, you’ll want to tip around 15% on top of the order. That said, it depends on the cafe. If you’re just sitting down with your drink after ordering it and there’s no table service (e.g. Starbucks), tipping is not necessary.
Tipping for your coffee is not necessary
Tipping at restaurants in the United States
At restaurants where you have a dedicated waiter, you are expected to tip. 15% is standard, but 18-25% of the total bill is a good rule of thumb.
You can use the total bill BEFORE tax is added, as the tax is just the fee going to the local government. If your total for a meal is $35, and you received excellent service, your tip would be $7.
If you intend to eat out at any nice restaurants (e.g. Michelin starred ones), expect good service and to tip accordingly. If a sommelier comes to your table, they will expect a tip. Similarly, the waiter might expect upwards of 20-30%.
If you’re traveling with a large group (typically 8+), many sit-down restaurants will automatically calculate gratuity. this is often at a rate of 21%, so don’t be surprised if you see a tip added onto your bill if you’re dining out with a larger group.
If you’re eating out at a fast food restaurant or a cafe with self-service, tipping isn’t necessary. If an employee is really accommodating about a food allergy, I might consider tipping a dollar or so.
…What if you have bad service?
Editor’s note: The one question that I’m often asked is if I receive bad service in the US, do I have to tip? You don’t have to tip
That said, if something truly goes wrong, don’t be afraid to talk to someone else if you feel that the situation isn’t getting resolved. If it gets resolved, tip the person who helps you resolve the situation. Generally, customer service in the US is quite good.
Hopefully, after reading this post, you feel comfortable with exactly what you should, and shouldn’t tip for when visiting. Even better, you now know how much to tip well. If you’re taking a cruise, read Michelle’s tips for cruise tipping!
Any questions about tipping in the United States?
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I don’t understand why the customer have to pay the salary of a waiter, this is so hard for us european people to understand. We pay for the food and the service should be included, the waiters should receive better salary from the employer. Also I don’t get why would I tip for a bad service..
I agree with you. I find it scary to live in a place where tips are compulsory for all types of services! No wonder the costs of living is so high in the US!
I completely agree. The author is saying that tip is “expected”. I feel like this just continues to corrupt companies into allowing the low pay and expect customers to not only pay the meal but the servers checks. The person in the article even stated to tip even for bad service. I’m so against forced tips and tipping in general, but this person in the article is just making it a mandatory thing rather what it really is, a OPTIONAL gesture. Anyone reading the article, if you WANT to tip you can, if you Don’t want to tip then you don’t have to . Tipping will always be optional and not forced, keep that in mind.
I totally agree with the above comments. The owner needs to pay you a decent wage and if necessary but the prices up.. Then, the customer can tip if they choose. Sounds to me that the owners are ripping you off and the customers.
As someone who worked in the service business, I can tell you that we have no control over the wages. Don’t punish the workers for the company’s decision, please.
Really?
“Per the U.S. Department of Labor, the current federal minimum cash wage is $2.13 with a maximum tip credit of $5.12 per hour, which combined equals $7.25. Employers using the tip credit must be able to prove the employee earned at least minimum wage through a combination of the minimum cash wage and any tip credit contributed by the employer.” – https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/on-the-line/how-much-should-restaurants-pay-employees
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped
K.’s comment means that all (?) restaurants in the U.S. operate outside current laws.
It depends on the state entirely!
It fascinates me how people can totally disrespect our culture because they’re too cheap to leave a tip. And for what it’s worth, I’ve been in a few countries where tipping was not the norm and was surprised at how utterly poor the service was. But it goes to show, pay everyone the same and you get to least amount of work possible. Reward good work and you get the best. It’s why socialism usually fails.
It’s not that we disrespect your culture but it’s not the thing we considered to begin with. We already paid the fees for the food, the ride, and that’s what you guys stated on the menu or calculated beforehand. I know the fact that we just love to receive free money for no reason whatsoever, but a traveler giving money to a complete stranger that we might never meet again or even know the name. How could you said that would be logical? You work hard and receive what you deserve – that’s your salary duh? Not for charity. If you really receive something nice, say thank you and come back next time. Why we being judged and being called cheap. Everyone got their own problem, give them a break already. It’s fascinated that we even tip on a bad service…What are we to you?
Where do you think the salary raise would come from? Would the restaurant owners pick it out of thin air? No, they’d have to *gasp* raise prices. You’d be paying for the additional cost one way or another. Don’t be a jerk and punish waiters because you don’t like the system. Stay home if it bothers you that much.
Socialism usually fails because there’s no government organ in 2020 that can accurately predict and respond to demand of goods.
Studies have shown that people will work hard, even for the same pay, so long as they feel any sense of pride from their job.
I visited US earlier this month. I dont mind paying a tip in a restaurant, generally i do 10% although on the card machine they have minimum as 15% which i felt is quite high. But i fail to understand why I need to tip a cab driver especially the yellow cab which charges double than the Uber. I regret using yellow cab in the beginning of my trip, Uber is way better in terms of their charges and also the driver are very friendly.
Yellow cab is a professional company, with properly vetted and insured drivers. Uber is a bunch of part time people using their own cars, without vetting, and most likely without proper insurance. And by the way, 10% is not enough for a tip. Some restaurants charge a waiter 8% of their gross sales to split with the rest of the employees in the restaurant, so at 10%, the waiter only gets 2%. That’s why the minimum is 15%. I tip more because I can afford it and I don’t mind rewarding good service. I certainly don’t expect a free ride from anyone.
Most stupid thing i have ever heard. ”10% is not enough for a tip”, 10% is more than enough, americans need to get it out of their head that tip is expected. Pay normal wages. Tip is to be earned.
No one should pay tip at all, people who do just keps the wheel rolling and it Will never change. Stop paying tips.
When I visit the US, sometimes it makes me hesitant to order expensive food on the menu. Because I get the same service but have to pay way more for it. My friend ordered a chicken sandwich and I ordered a beef burger. We got the same service but just because my food is more expensive I have to pay more tips for the same service. I understand the tipping culture. But I think is unfair for the customer. They should kinda standardize it a little.
If you don’t want to pay tips, don’t eat at sit-in restaurants. There are plenty of self-service restaurants that are affordable.
You might take a bit of time to understand the culture. It’s not a government rule, but a culture. When I go to your country, whatever it might be, I certainly don’t complain about whatever you do. And as always, if you’re too cheap to reward good service, don’t waste the server’s time. Go somewhere else. Buy some peanut butter and a loaf of bread and eat in your room.
American NOT complaining about other cultures… best laugh ever.
Isn’t everything you dislike or cannot grasp always labelled socialism?
The problem is that people don’t always receive good service. The customer is expected to tip whether the service is good, bad or indifferent. I have never had a job were I have been tipped and my employers have paid me a decent wage. I therefore fail to see why I am expected to subsidise the wage bill. Perhaps American employers need to start realistically pricing their services and pay a decent minimum. Also what about owner operators? Do they expect payment and a tip on top too?
Hahaha, Fink doesn’t give a fuck about your opinions and I love it. Is what it is gringos, if it’s been in their culture forever who are you as an outsider to comment, I’m going to the US for the first time from Australia, yes, we don’t have to tip here but its customary to skull a beer from a used shoe at least once. #TheShoey
I have spent a week in New York and I can’t stand the tipping culture. I have not received outstanding service because the staff don’t need to to get a tip. I feel its unfair that I as the customer should pay the staffs wages. I think it’s awful that the minimum wage is so low. The wage for a waiter/waitress is quite low in the UK, so they rely on tips too, but have to give a great service for their 10 per cent. We had to pay 18 per cent tip for a staff member to make a sandwich. The food prices are high enough without adding taxes and tips. I couldn’t get my head round the quality of food and service for the prices we paid.
I’ve been to the UK many times, and I’ve found the service in your restaurants to be dreadful. I don’t know where you’ve eaten in New York, but I’ve always had good service. Of course, New Yorkers are a little different critters than most folks, so they sometimes seem a little “direct.” But they’re great people.
Lighten up. When you come to our country, respect our culture. You expect the same from us when we go to yours. Oh, and when I get the “dreadful” service in the UK, it’s usually from a very friendly person. they just don’t know what good service is supposed to be. But they’re still nice folks.
Take your own advice Mr Fink.
What’s the difference between people complaining that advertised prices should reflect the total price and you complaining about service culture of other countries. Take your own advice respect the service culture where we don’t force people to debase themselves to customers with no guarantee of being paid just to earn a liveable wage.
I don’t employ the waitress, I should be negotiating their pay.
Well said. I live is Spain and see ridiculous levels of tips being left by “you know who”. Respecting culture is a two-way street.
@ Lee Sinden what is the difference in cost if you tip the waiter or the tip is included in the price of the meal? The total is the same only in one case you don’t have a choice in how much you pay for the service.
That is the best point I have seen on here. If she or he refills your drink the same amount of times, takes your order, brings your order and maybe checks on you to see if you need anything she did the same thing, regardless if your meal is $15 or $30, good point. Having said this, prices would be much higher on food if the restaurants paid waiters/waitresses more per hour. I agree it would be nice if the entire world was on the same page. When we were in Greece last year I thought the food prices were ridiculous but they didn’t expect a huge tip.It’s one or the other but in the USA this is the way it is. However I disagree totally with the author of the article, I am not tipping on bad service and bad attitude! I don’t hold it against them when my food is not prepared correctly because they didn’t prepare it, but not picking my food up until it’s served cold, not bringing items we requested numerous times, not refilling our drink and waiting for our check, that’s on them and I will not tip when they are rude and a smarta**. And yes I waitressed while in high school and college! It’s not a hard job but you need good listening skills, manners, friendly personality and a good memory.
This is very helpful information for my upcoming trip. A few further questions if anyone can help:
– how do you leave tip for housekeeping? Just leave cash out somewhere?
– if paying the bill with credit card, should I still pay the tip in cash? I always worry that even if I add a tip to the credit card amount, it won’t actually go to the right person…
– for Uber, we can leave a tip in the app when doing the driver review after the ride. Is this OK, or should I give cash to the driver at the end of the ride?
For Uber, you can give cash or through the app. Cash is better. 🙂
I have a separate post for housekeeping tips, however leave a few dollars each day for the maid.
I prefer to pay the tip in cash to ensure that it goes to the right person.
Some folks leave tips for housekeeping. I never do unless they’re done something above and beyond.
I often pay the tip in a restaurant in cash. Not because I’m worrierd that it won’t get to the server because it does, but because a tip paid via credit card absolutely MUST be reported to the Government as income. Paying in cash, it’s up to the descretion of the server whether it gets reported or not.
so you are ok with the servers not paying tax???
15% is not enough! If you tip them that you will greatly offend your server. Expect to tip 25% at restaurants
Wow! That’s so much. I want to get this right when I go to America, but as a waitress myself I never expect tips (not because I’m not good, but because we just don’t in the UK). If I get tipped it’s a really lovely surprise and makes my day, but it will usually only be £1-£3 and you’ll get the odd £5/£10 for large tables. But this then gets shared out between all the staff members including the chefs. Ours isn’t based on a set expected amount, but a system of give what you can and only if you found the service really good. When I go out to eat I never expect to tip the wait staff, but sometimes they go out of their way to help you so then you want to. If you went on the basis of £2 tip then most people would give a 5%-10% tip in the UK. So 25% seems extortionate!
I don’t want to offend any waitstaff when I go to America, but every site has told me different things about how much is appropriate and also that you should tip when you’ve had bad service?! Please help!
This is not a part of culture but capitalism at full speed. It is even funnier because US citizens see it as a cultural thing where it is just another way to exploit labour from low income citizens (waiters) at the cost of middle class (customer). In comments I read how proud some guy is because it is American thing and then he talks about tax avoidance. Also addressing tips in Europe, in UK for a minimum wage I was able to afford everything as a student about 7 years ago and even save some money – I worked as assistant chef in a pub having the same wage as waiter. When I visited US I usually tipped 10% just because I felt peer pressure. I did not leave tip few times because service was terrible and food just average. If I went again I would only tip when I would get exceptional service or food, otherwise I would not tip …. I mean as a tourist who cares.
Reading this surprised me and also frighten me, As a Mexican engineer, I earn $120/week. I would love to travel to the U.S. one day, but boi that’s such a high tip. Tips in Mexico are generally $1-2 conditioned to great service and also only at expensive restaurants, this is because almost 70% of Mexican families earn $500/month (4 members), so it is a big sacrifice for us to pay and expensive travel, expensive food, and expensive services so we will never have in mind paying a highly unnecessary tip for something that we already pay. Dunno man this is unfair
There are lots of things in North America that dont make sense to us Europeans… You go in a store and something is marked at $100 but you then take it to the checkout and its $107 then you cross the road and the same item is $108 because the tax is not included in the price and is different state to state.. I guess they are getting people to swat up on mental arithmatic… its defo not transparent pricing…
The tip system is another antiquated example … Everyone would appreciate just knowing the the price of a meal or a drink and include the cost of the item and the service (the staff/ the clients/the resteraunt) … and then tip if the service is better than expected in the same way people in office environment get a bonus..
Anyway without trying to sound anti american.. it wont change but its strange they dont see why the rest of us find it so weird to want transparency when buying something… and they have this view that europeans are tight with tipping.. No we expect employees to pay staff a fair wage and include it in their pricing …. the tip is there to recognise a better than average job …
If I order dinner and buy a bottle of wine or other alcohol, I pay 20% pre tax for the food bill. What about alcohol? Wine could be $50 or it could be $200.
Thank you for this blog I have found it very useful. I totally understand that tips help make up the waiter wages. Whether some agree or not with this, I personally dont mind.
I am glad I read this as I would have been under tipping as I normally tip around 10%. I was really unsure how much to tip service that we dont get charged for like hotel maid service and so forth.
This is a fantastic topic.
I have had this discussion over and over in the past 4 years with both service-industry workers and frequent diners and patrons. The consensus seems to be the following:
It is now expected to tip between 15-20% for ALL counter-service, including certain types of fast-food (think Panera, Chipotle). This also includes counter-service for non-restaraunt, “craft” purchases (the butcher, baker, fish and cheesemonger all get tipped now). This sentiment did not originate during the pandemic but COVID certainly solidified this as a new standard expectation.
Furthermore, 20% is considered the new bare minimum, with 25-30% for good to excellent service. 40-50% has been tossed around for large groups, lots of custom orders or for high-end service (think: with full staff and sommelier) but not with any seriousness. But it does come up. The justification is this: if you’ve received poor service, it’s your duty to communicate that to the server. There is no justification to refuse to pay them equally for their labor.
I abhor tipping as a practice. I think it’s a pernicious vehicle to shift responsibility for Fair Labor practices off of employees and squarely onto the consumer. It flies in the face of both laborer and consumer protections and it’s been revealed in study after study to be the last bastion of unequal pay for women, minority and disabled workers.
That said, I feel trapped and duty-bound to tip in accordance with zeitgeist expectations. I think it’s time to have a conversation about how to shift responsibility for worker compensation back onto the employer.
Thank you for these advices. I plan a long trip (a month) to visit US. Following these tips rules, I should take a special suitcase full of $$ only for tips, I guess 😉 Unless I can pay these tips with my credit card ?? What your thoughs about this? Thank you!!
You can pay for tips with your credit card. Yeah, traveling in the US always has some sticker shock. 😉
Tipping is American way of showing off. I don’t think an average American can calculate 15% of the bill from their mind And if every customer pays 15% of the bill as a tip, a waiter can earn more than a lawyer. Therefore, obviously most of the people don’t follow the 15% minimum rule.
For a waiter to earn “as much as a lawyer,” (what an average attorney makes in the US), he or she would have to sell close to $4k in one shift, make a solid 15% in tips, and keep 100% of that money for him/herself. That’s over 250 $15 burgers (which is an expensive burger in most places in the US). If every single customer gets two $5 beers, that’s still over 150 customers in one shift in order to make the amount of money you’re talking about… IF the waiter is keeping 100% of the tips. Waiters at busy restaurants in most US cities (so excluding very expensive areas like San Francisco, New York, etc.) generally sell about half that ($2k) in a night. Then, including the very expensive areas, they have support staff to pay (usually around 1-5%- of their SALES, not their EARNINGS) and taxes to pay (another 9% of SALES minimum in most places, even if the customer did not leave a tip), so leaving a 15% tip means you actually paid your waiter anywhere from 0% to 4% of your bill. Waiters only make “as much as lawyers” at very high end restaurants. These restaurants require for their waiters ongoing food education, ongoing wine education, ongoing coffee education, etc. Not to mention education about the area where they work, and acceptable wardrobe. Waiters are generally not paid for this time/wardrobe, and sometimes pay for this ongoing education themselves. These waiters are arguably as educated as the average lawyer, but in different subjects (have you ever had an in-depth conversation with a waiter at a Michelin star restaurant? Their knowledge is incredible!). But acceptable gratuity is generally worked into the bill at this type of restaurant in the US, so bad tippers have no effect on these waiters. Furthermore, restaurants are optional. It is not mandatory to patronize them. So if you don’t agree with the gratuity they charge, you are fully free to make that decision.
The average waiter in the US earns less than $40k a year (from one job- most waiters have more than one job so they can work more hours and earn more money. But your second job as a waiter isn’t going to get you the best shifts, so you make incrementally less per hour at each additional job you have to have). Employers are not required to pay waiters minimum wage in most places in the US, so their typical hourly wage is 1-3 dollars.
Tipping is not “showing off.” It’s how the people caring for you at the restaurant pay their bills. And 15% is not standard. 20% is standard. If you leave a typical restaurant in the US having given less than a 20% tip to your waitstaff, the entire staff will know about it before you’ve made it down the block, and they will remember you if you come in again.
Hopefully this helps everyone have more pleasant dining experiences!
You can absolutely argue that waiters chose this path and should have chosen another if they wanted to make more money. But I love restaurants. I love food and drinks and service and the cultural experience it provides almost everywhere you go. It sounds like you do too. I think we’d both like waiters to be able to make a decent living so we can keep patronizing the many unique and wonderful places they work.
In the case that you go to a fancy restaurant and spend 500$ or something, it seems absurd to tip 20%=100$ extra to your waiter. That would mean he/she would make more an hour than most high paid jobs get, especially when serving more tables, and we as customers pay for it. And then the company would get all the money for the food and just paying a few dollars an hour for the workers. They would get filthy rich!
This article gives great insight into tip culture and I appreciate it as a former waiter. Some people in the comments don’t understand the need for tips, and rightly so. But the way things work in the restaurant business is that tips are often an important part of waiters’ earnings.
That may be worth changing, but waiters shouldn’t suffer for it. Personally, I don’t see it as such a big problem, so I always leave a tip if the waiter has been polite to me. Even when I sit with a large company, we use http://www.tip-calculator.org to calculate the tip correctly and everyone is happy.
So if you have the opportunity, take a look at the tip culture from the bright side and enjoy good service in return.
I’m a snowbird from Europe – I understand the culture, I don’t agree with the system but I do comply because if I wouldn’t it would mean people would be working for free for me, and that does not reflect my personality. I tip 15 % for bad service, maybe a couple of times I have gone down to 10% but then the waiter was just simply rude and service dreadful. Usually I tip 20% but if in cheap chain restaurant like Chilli’s my tip range between 30-40%.
But I have to agree the tipping culture often actually urges me to order cheaper, I love champagne and I would spend the 100 dollars on that but then I think ohh plus tax and tips so I usually have white wine instead for 40 dollars.
Waiters should get paid properly and the tipping wage should be eliminated. Waiters shouldn’t have to rely on customers paying their wages and they should have healthcare and sick days. All this propaganda that prices would rise is just propaganda, but it dosen’t surprise me 99% seem to always defend the 1%. Every single European country and Canada can pay wages. And even if prices would rise then so what ? Then at least everybody are paying the same not that one cheap bastard tips 0% and I come and tip 30 % and make up for that cheap bastard. And if there is slow day at the restaurant people get the same wage. It blows my mind f.ex. that the weather can control someone’s wages. Working at a restaurant at the beach…. oh sorry only 2.14 per hour for you today it’s raining.
People should check the revenue of popluar restaurants before claiming prices would rise. I know one from Europe that opened restaurant in Orlando, he said it was so easy to make money and it was amazing because most of the staff is basically for free.
Realistically I think price rise would be arround 5% (shouldn’t have to be any at some places) I think also people would spend more if it wouldn’t be expected to tip 20% like I said in my experience I often skip the 100-150 dollars bottles because I think about the added extras.
This system needs to be changed it would be more fair towards everyone, but while it is what it is people should comply like it or not. Again I really don’t like the system but I do comply !
I’m US born, and will be the first to admit it’s Ludicrous how the service industry operates in that country. I’ve worked in it myself, and remember how badly it hurt when I’d have table after table or client after client from European countries – who wouldn’t leave me a tip. It affected not only my morale, but ability to pay my bills if this happened too often. Because I’m aware of this , and was programmed into that culture for so long – I’ll never b able to allow myself not to tip when in the US – even though I’m against the practice of it. The last time I visited – I was appalled but how many cafes and small business have put tip buckets right in you face at check out- or added screen on digital iPads where you have to awkwardly select other or no tip to dismiss an automatic one… I find his unnecessary when ordering something like a pastry or burrito for take away. It’s all TOO much, but skimping the hard working waitress or hairstylist because we morally disagree with the system is unfair. I’m not sure what the solution is ? For now I just spend as much time in countries with lower prices , higher quality food, and low expectations with the tips 😛
It is now 2023 and my state and city have increased minimum wages. In Flagstaff, AZ, non-tipped wages are now $16.80 and tipped are $14.80 and will increase each year according to the CPI as well as have the tipped wages match the non-tipped by 2026 (currently, an employer must make up the difference if the tipped employee doesn’t make minimum wage, so tipped employees are already at parity with non-tipped). If a city or state is not following federal minimum wages (which many–most?–are not), how do you tip? I would love to see tipping go away, except for exceptional service.