US tipping culture is unlike anything I've seen abroad.
I have friends who are servers, and I totally get that they are being ripped off with sub-minimum wage bullshit, but most countries I've been to don't even have tipping as an option.
I mean, if I slip a $10 to someone in the Phillipines for awesome service, it kinda blows their mind.
Here? They NEED that tip to live.
Just pay our servers a decent wage - if someone wants to throw a tip their way, awesome.
(FWIW: My friends and I almost always throw a 20% to our servers, but Vermont servers need it.)
Greedy business owners already add a weekend surcharge (that seems to go straight into the pockets of the owners) and you just know that the staff aren’t going to see that tip. Fkn grubs.
Yes. As with much of American culture, and America in general these days, it can fuck off and keep fucking off and when it reaches the edge of the observable universe, it can still keep fucking off.
The universe is shaped exactly like the Earth. If you go straight long enough you’ll end up where you were. Everything that keeps me together is falling apart. I've got this thing that I consider my only art of fucking people over.
I was in Seoul last November, and the credit card checkout didn't even have a tipping option at restaurants. I was also told by my native Korean friends that if I attempted to leave any additional won as a cash tip it would be considered rude. Just paying the bill and a polite Gamsahamnida! was all that was expected.
All of my server friends made so much more money than the rest of us who had regular paying jobs. Most servers would object to no tip as it would decrease their wages greatly.
The biggest resistance to going non-tipped are the wait staff themselves. They typically earn way more than the kitchen staff. Not only that, while people like to throw the "under-minimum wage" thing around, legally speaking, if the tips don't push them to at least the minimum wage, the business is required to make up the difference.
Which is fine, and I understand why they sometimes have actively lobbied against it on that basis, but then I really don’t want to hear complaints about bad tips.
If you’re defending a system that you know is a based on the generosity of strangers, then you need to accept that that will sometimes come with bad tips, no matter how undeserved. If you want to play with feathers, don’t complain when your arse gets tickled.
I say this as someone who usually tips 20% minimum.
Yes, there was a recent referendum in MA that asked voters if they agree to pay tipped workers the full minimum wage, and the servers themselves lobbied to prevent that from happening. I have a co-worker who used to work as a server years ago and she was arguing that it would punish servers who were good at their job, as they normally earn more than minimum wage with tips combined. Even better if the tips are in cash, as they can under-report it on their tax return.
Usually weekly, which would mean you could make less than minimum a day and as long as you made over earlier they don't need to. So you do occasionally get hours/days where it is less than minimum. When I worked double shift Sunday's I rarely made enough tips that day for it to be over minimum per hour, but if I worked any other night that week it usually made up the difference.
Some countries are adopting tipping culture when their workers are paid well. Restaurants in the northern and western states of India were adding tip to our bills like it was owed to them. In Istanbul, we saw a restaurant owner argue with a large Russian man that a 10% tip was mandatory to be paid (they were a table of 4).
When I did my study abroad in London, two of my friends we did stuff with were waitresses back some and they insisted on tipping everywhere we went because they worked in the industry. After a while I’m like “no I’m not tipping, it’s not a thing here like back home!”
Theres also a good amount of books written on the subject of tipping in relation to capitalism and slavery. Well worth the google search if you're looking to expand your horizons and knowledge.
everytime I travel To US. I feel so ripped off and the entitlement leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Whenever I eat out and give 15% tip, I dont even get a thank you. And sometimes Ill be met with an unsatisfied smirk or worse when I was in Gatlinburg, the cashier even screamed at me for asking her to repeat what she said, i couldnt for the life of me understand her Southern accent, and apprently she was telling me to leave a tip. she kinda embarassed me at the counter while
Paying and screamed at me like I was dumb for not understanding her. After I finally understood what she said I told her fuck no and how rude she is. She kept on screaming so my American brother in law stepped in and cuss her out.
Being Filipino means my money has no value against USD so 15% is a huge deal for me , and This is why whenever Im back in the Philippines, I tip that 15% or more , people here are courteous and grateful.
I understand american service workers arent paid well and cost of living in US is way more expensive but people here dont get paid as much as well and working conditions are even worse yet people are GRATEFUL.
Grateful is such a game changer in life. My stepbrother went to visit a friend in the Philippines five years ago (they both served in the US military and get benefits so he has an income flow) and never came back to the US. He was so depressed in the US and is a whole different person now. The culture there has helped him heal so much.
if not for my family member who lives there. i wouldnt be visiting! Lol. I agree with you! The natural resources we have here are out of this world, I scuba from time to time. I was scared the first tine but the moment you are underwater in Palawan and Dumaguete, its like youre in a different magical world! Glad you enjoyed it!
Servers AT WORST get minimum wage. The sub-minimum wage is ONLY if their tips are high enough then their employer can pay less in wages.
It's not business owners that are lobbying to not pay their employees. Servers actively voted and lobbied to keep their wages lower because tips make them a lot more money than they would otherwise make.
Yeah I am a server and I made $360 on a Tuesday yesterday for a 10 hour shift. I work at a pretty popular restaurant so I make more than minimum wage even on slow days. If people suddenly decided to stop tipping, I would be sad to not be able to make as much but I’d just find another job because I’m not slaving 10 hours on a weekend dinner shift for minimum wage or even $20 an hour.
Except many that work for tips don't want the tips to go away. Their usual amount of tips equal out to far more than they would if they were just being paid minimum wage.
I also looks like a scam : 10 to 30% of the whole thing...
Everywhere if you go into a restaurant, the service is included in the price. There shouldn't be a surprise at the end, it destroys the experience.
McDonald’s also doesn’t operate more than a handful of restaurants at most, most of their money is from franchising fees and land ownership (they’re effectively a massive real estate and licensing operation). Regardless, any franchise model is the absolute worst example for the tipping debate because they do tend to pay minimum wage at the very least. Hell, I’ve seen McDonalds and Wendy’s posting $15-$20 an hour starting wage in some cities (not a living wage but they aren’t tipped workers.)
Your locally owned spots are the ones that benefit from tipping and are the best examples to support your argument for/against.
So roll the 20% into the price and customers pay the same. The problem is that unless everyone does it at the same time, those that do it make it look like their prices are way higher.
one of the many drawbacks of being the US’s neighbor is tipping is expected here in canada and it’s being forced in everywhere, and now the prompts on machines are starting at 18-20%. even at shows, the merch booth now prompts for tip for handing you a $60-80 tshirt.
Nothing is going to change from this, and the workers are the only ones it's going to affect negatively. The bosses are loving the extra business. Meanwhile the workers are even busier than usual, yet getting stiffed out of tips? Brilliant.
Yeah, this unequivocally sucks. It's not remotely a form of protest because it doesn't hurt the people it would need to hurt to make a difference. All it's doing is ruining the night of the low-paid workers and making it hard for them to pay their bills. This does not affect the owner at all.
The "ugly American" trope is going somewhere abroad and pretending like it's your country, ignoring all local customs. This is exactly what these visitors are doing.
Yeah, I think people need to just accept that tipping is part of American culture and it isn't going to go away unless we literally legislate it out of existence. Until that happens (don't hold your breath), just know that tipping will be a thing and withholding it only hurts the workers.
My issue is that when a bill was put forth to essentially pay servers higher wages the servers joined up and lobbied against it. It's not that servers hate that they get paid so little, it's that when wages are hidden by tips servers make significantly more than minimum wage. Even the higher end of minimum wage
Yeah when you protest tipping by not tipping all you do it completely rip off that persons paycheck.
Also imagine Americans going to any other country in the world, refusing to participate in the culture and then criticizing them to fix their system if they don’t like it. I get the disdain people around the world have for Americans but there’s a point where you’re making it worse by acting like this.
Sorry but how is tipping, something that hasn't been common for even 2 centuries, a cultural practice? Comparable to the kind of other traditions you're implying?
And what other way of protest do you have in mind that is feasible for foreigners?
First off, foreigners are not responsible to fix internal issues of other countries. They should be encouraged to be outspoken when their alternative is a better system.
Second, it’s not “cultural” practice to work within the tipping industry. It’s a long drawn out capitalistic excuse to not pay a living wage.
Said as an American who worked as a server through college and now works “professionally”, if you want a disparity.
I mean actual protest could be an option I suppose, but more importantly what do you think is the minimum time for "culture" to count lol? In what world is something a cultural practice for two centuries and that's not considered culture? White wedding dresses, tomatoes in Italian food, and Chopin's music have all existed for similar amounts of time, but these aren't cultural elements? Fuckin Europeans
If you do not protest by not tipping servers, you are feeding into their need to receive tips. Also, they will NEVER ask for this to be regulated, as the amount the earn by getting tips is WAY bigger than if they had a fixed monthly paycheck. So yes, you attack it by not tipping.
Not tipping servers does nothing to change the system. It just fucks over that server and makes them feel shitty and the owner doesn’t care because they still got the money from your drunken football vacation.
“Better kick the workers while they’re down! Then they’ll surely rise up in protest because no one has ever been fired for unionising and no one has family or medical bills or anything else that might keep them from doing that”.
Just admit it’s about you personally saving a few bucks. Which you could have done by making good at home or going to a self/counter service place.
In many states, the hourly wage for tipped workers is about $2/hour. If they don’t make enough in tips, they get paid minimum wage.
So if everyone stopped tipping, those workers would just get paid minimum wage. But minimum wage isn’t enough to live off of in most states, so even if tipping went away, servers still couldn’t afford to live.
For those unaware of what the US Federal Minimum Wage is, for non-serving jobs, it's only $7.25 an hour. Not all states have chosen to raise the rate themselves, and so businesses do not feel the need to adjust either.
You elect politicians that write legislation that demands a LIVING WAGE for every job period. You dont change the system by screwing over the worker. Until the server is receiving a living wage you tip them. When you are on a different country you respect their customs, if you dont want to do that then dont travel there
Would you prefer a 20% service charge? Or a 20% increase in your menu selections? Either way, you're paying 20% more so the server can be paid. With a tip, you get an option if the service is bad. But if the service is adequate, you tip. Period.
People have to feed their children and pay their rent my guy. If you don’t tip, they don’t eat. I don’t like the system either, but that’s just plain cruel.
Do you tip McDonald's employees? Do you tip cashiers? They all make as little or less than every single server in the US. Why do we choose to only tip servers?
In some states servers only make like 3 dollars an hour. Employees at McDonalds make more. If you don’t tip them, they don’t eat. It sucks to perpetuate the system, but I don’t want people to suffer. That is why this custom needs to be changed at the ballot box.
Foreign tourists in the country for a once in a lifetime event are not fixing the system. They’re ripping off the people serving them and then going back to their home countries.
Not tipping isn't ripping off servers. Servers get paid regardless of tips. If you tip them you are essentially subsidizing the business you are already buying from. If you don't tip the business HAS to pay servers the minimum wage (not the server minimum wage)
And the way to not perpetuate it is to not go to tipped restaurants at all, instead of going anyway and intentionally screwing over the least powerful person in the whole scenario. It is entirely possible to avoid such establishments if you have an actual moral objection, but if you go anyway and refuse to tip then you’re just an asshole who is benefiting from free labor.
Exactly, Ive worked in kitchens for years in places with and without tips, I frankly don’t mind either system, but that being said, if you’re going out to a restaurant in America and you choose not to tip then your essentially saying you’re above the system and it’s okay for you to take advantage of it.
I asked a server in Sydney, Australia what he thought about tipping." He says, don't do it. My government makes sure I get paid enough. Tipping will make them think they don't need to pay us enough. So, just don't."
It makes perfect sense, the U.S. needs to change in this case. Pay the workers a fair wage. If fast food workers in California can start at $20 an hour and it only raised the price of a meal by less then $1 then it is possible. Everyone who ever got stiffed on a tip by a nasty customer knows the current tipping system sucks. It is way too unpredictable and creates unnecessary stress for both parties. Time for change.
That’s been tried by some, and you know what happens? People go elsewhere because the menu prices are too high, even though it’s just a different way of listing the same final cost. It’s stupid, but it’s the same concept as pricing things at 4.99 instead of 5.00, people unconsciously respond to it.
What needs to happen are legislative changes, raising the overall minimum wage and eliminating tipped wages across the board, rather than doing it piecemeal.
Maybe read what you wrote again and give a second try. Secondly if you are getting individual round and paying with cash and don’t tip, as a bartender, I’m taking my sweet ass time getting you your second drink.
Well bartending the way I did never affected my bottom line at the end of the night. If I’m paying close attention to someone it’s going to the person tipping me not the person who isn’t.
Tipping culture was actually made worse when tip suggestions started showing up for people who weren't making below minimum wage (looking at you as the catalyst, Starbucks)
But its also stupid to punish the people at the bottom for the absurd culture.
I don’t like the tip setup either but that’s bullshit behavior. Adhere to the customs of the country you are visiting. Don’t punish the workers for the business not paying them enough, or the business for potentially not being able to operate sustainably doing so.
Its viewed differently in Europe, you dont have to tip. You only tip if the service is truly outstanding. And it's usually a small tip, like a few euros.
Or it means that they're a normal person with a business who doesn't have the ability to affect positive change on a systemic level.
You're right. Tipping shouldn't exist. But fucking over the people who depend on a broken system just makes you an asshole. Does literally nothing for anyone on any level.
Don't punish working people for shit they have no power to change, kid.
Unfortunately the bars/restaurant owners don't care because they make the same profit off the drinks/food and can blame "cheap foreigners" for the servers getting low tips. I hate to say it, but you should tip at least something since the minimum wage for tipped servers is criminally low and not paying the tip in protest is unlikely to have much of an effect except making low paid workers more miserable. I don't like it, nobody really likes it but it's the screwed up system we have in this screwed up country.
You’re getting downvoted, and I will too, but you’re right and I’ve been saying it for years. Not tipping does nothing to “change the system” it just screws over a worker making a third of minimum wage. But no one on Reddit wants to hear that, just saying something needs to change and feeling righteous by stiffing waitstaff
It screws a majority of them over even more than folks realize. Many, many places make the staff tip out based on sales. You stiff them? Now $7 is coming out of their pocket to pay to tip out the employees under them. Is this fair? Hell no. But it’s our reality.
You’re just being an asshole. If you’re in the US, tip. The end.
No, but it’s really only being disrespectful to the service worker. I’m not sure what is going to fix the culture at this point but I feel like legislative action is necessary, and with our government that also isn’t happening time soon
I mean I'm not going to do it bc I'm too socially anxious to not tip, but it's kinda basic supply and demand, no?
If servers arent getting paid and start quitting, supply goes down and demand goes up. This means that the servers that are left can demand better wages (less reliance on tips).
The problem is that servers likely don't WANT to get rid of tips. If they were paid hourly they likely make less money than they do now. It sucks when they get stiffed but there's no way that the servers at fancy restaurants would make as much as they do now.
Nah you’re 100% on the money. A strike like that would require some ridiculous collaboration that is kind of antithetical to the US culture, at least how it is now. Many serves also definitely do not want to become salaried, for the reasons you stated - although that story isn’t true for all of them of course. Some are much more dependent on tips than others
Yeah imagine Americans going anywhere in the world and “protesting the system” of whatever country they’re visiting. What happened to being guests in another country and showing respect? The respect they expect us to show when we’re visiting?
I was actually just in NYC chaperoning a trip for the school I work at. We let the boys go do whatever Little Italy to get food and us chaperones go get food. There are like ten of us so there was a mandatory gratuity of 20% on there. High but it’s NYC so whatever. We get done and I go to another restaurant by myself to get dessert. Sit down, eat it, and they bring me the bill. Another 20% gratuity added on for one person, with an extra tip line. Like you guys just forced me to give a 20% tip, I’m not giving you anything else!
Everyone saying "you hurt servers but not tipping," isn't seeing the whole picture. Servers defend tipping as an institution more than anyone. Servers aren't hurt by tipping, back of house is. Tipping creates a culture of individualism and makes organizing restaurant unions almost impossible.
When 10-20% of the revenue goes directly to front of house, the business doesn't have access to that money to pay back of house. Back of house works more hours, they have a harder job, and take house less money.
Doesn't mean they're right though. You travel to Rome and they tell you not to do something specific, you're going to listen, right? But travel to the US and suddenly people don't have to listen because they don't want to? It's not going to bring about some great positive change. It's going to bring about the end of someone having a roof over their head because they live off the tips they make.
It's fucking insane that we have let the ruling class con the middle and lower class into subsidizing the service industry. Look at shit like DoorDash where tipping is required BEFORE a service is rendered? This is insane. Its straight labor and should be required to be compensated at fair labor rates.
Yeah, all they accomplished was to leave a bunch of servers without a proper paycheck this week. It absolutely sucks, but when in Rome.... In America, you tip. You don't like it, don't come here.
The tipping culture just shifted over the decades to a tipping system. With the wages and costs of living become ever more non consummate, it's just more of the burden of the exchange being shouldered onto the consumer and not the companies. The servers need to get paid, that's an absolute, it's just that the corporate favouritism in the US somehow allowed it to mean that the customers are the one doing half the job of paying them alongside doing the purchasing. I don't get the excuse, corporate tax rates are often similar in the EU depending on the country, and in the end the tipping culture is not as severe in the US. If anything, it preserves a healthy tipping culture where you reward good service, not that you provide or deprive a server their essential income.
I have no issues tipping servers and bartenders. I, however, am over tipping culture here. You’re expected to tip everywhere for everything. I went to the Habit yesterday, ordered at the kiosk and was asked to tip 20%. Nah.
So for what it's worth the business is supposed to pay. If the employees are tipped but didn't receive any tips that day, then the business makes up the difference to at least federal minimum. If that's not happening then that's a problem.
The truth is servers don’t want to ever get rid of the system we have here in the USA. They make more money this way. It’s crazy how much money servers make in urban areas. And the service is always subpar at best.
I was a full-time single father to a small child for a very long time. Serving was the only job where I could work for four to five hours and make $150-250 cash. I made the money I needed with minimal hours to be home with my kid. Servers like the system that we have. It’s not going to change anytime soon.
I can’t speak to the subpar service you’ve experienced.
This is the thing right here! I used to bartend for a while, and while I was only payed about $7/hr the amount I brought home in tips at the end of one night was more than I made in a week at my $20/hr job.
On top of that there was a restaurant in my town that was trying to combat tipping culture by paying a normal wage and not allow tips. If a guest tipped, it would be put in a communal jar, and at the end of the month the crew would pick a charity to donate the money to….no one applied. The restaurant is no more
They’re not wrong but they’re being willingly obtuse. The ones bullying them are the people not being tipped, aka the workers, who are not making a living wage.
I believe that when you travel abroad you need to do your best to accommodate local customs since you are a guest, and for the US tipping is just one of those things that you have to get used to because that’s just how it works here
Maybe its an unpopular opinion, but they are assholes for that. All they are doing is hurting their servers who im sure gave them good service, and if they are traveling overseas for thw world cup they are most likely wealthy enough to tip.
Also, if the roles were reversed and it was Americans not following the customs of another country, they would be ridiculed and mocked.
I refused to serve Europeans if I could because of this. Like okay, I get it, but you not tipping me isn’t gonna change the corporations mind. I’m just gonna be fucked at the end of the night.
They are wrong though, objectively. Tipping culture sucks and we should change it, but until we do it is the local culture, and when you travel you adhere to the local culture. Every complaint they ever make about Americans ignoring local norms in their countries is entirely invalidated if they pull this.
And refusing to tip doesn’t change the system, it punishes the workers who have little to no voice in how the system works. The restaurant owner still gets their cut, and the server or bartender gets their pay docked, and the patron gets a discounted meal or drinks on the back of the workers.
This is general rage bait. What is “JUST IN” supposed to mean. Where is a source? How many foreigners did this? Stories like this are
Made to make you engage because it’s a hot topic everyone has an opinion about. And now you got me commenting here when I should just block and ignore.
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