Have you ever been at a store, ordering something, when the cashier awkwardly turns the tablet around and says, “The screen will display a question,” indicating a couple of options to tip?
While tipping at a formal restaurant is a sign of respect for the waiter and chefs working to make your dining experience pleasant, tips are now expected in places where they weren’t before. Tipping for good service has turned into an extra cost, on top of the bill. What’s known as “tip fatigue” has become the term for how Americans feel tired of seeing this trend expand.
Tipping has become the norm for basic services, and customers are increasingly obligated to do so. However, some people have no shame in not tipping, as they don’t care to evolve with these new developments. As a result, in cities like Atlanta and Miami, many restaurants pre-add a service charge.
The issue isn’t with the workers or the consumers— it’s with the management. In many cases, workers aren’t compensated fairly, and the pressure to make up for that pay is placed on the consumer to cover part of their earnings. In fact, according to WNBC, around 60% of Americans believe that businesses are transferring the responsibility of paying employees to customers through tips instead of providing sufficient salaries.
Nonetheless, in countries such as Japan, Denmark, and Switzerland, tipping is not customary. The wait staff is paid higher wages than in North America, and tipping can actually be considered rude.
So, why is tipping so important in the U.S. compared to other countries? The practice of tipping can be traced back to the mid-1800s, when Americans adopted it from Europe and brought it back to the United States. After the Civil War, tipping gained traction. It was viewed as a cheap labor strategy, allowing many businesses to take advantage of workers and avoid paying equitable compensation.
At first, tipping was controversial because it was seen as a way for wealthier individuals to assert superiority over lower-wage workers. However, over time, it became the norm— and the expected percentage has steadily increased. As reported by CNBC, during the 1950s, it was typical to tip around 10% of the bill. By the 1970s and 1980s, that number had risen to 15%. Since 2023, it is expected that one tip will be anywhere from 15% to 25%.
In short, tipping has evolved from a way to bypass paying a reasonable income to a social expectation that places a burden on both workers and consumers. While tipping will always be a part of our culture, ideally going forward, large businesses in industries like food-service and retail will hopefully recognize the importance of restoring equal pay.
