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Tipping culture varies from country to country. In Japan, offering gratuity is uncommon and often done discreetly. On the other hand, tipping is optional in places like Germany, Portugal, Ireland, and the UK because a service charge is sometimes included. The acceptable tipping percentage in these countries is between 5 and 10%.
In the United States, service industry employees rely on the 20% tips they receive. Anything lower could make them question whether the customers weren’t happy with the job they did or cause them to react aggressively.
A family experienced the latter when the mom, visiting from overseas, paid below the standard tipping amount. It caused quite a scene with the server chasing them down as they left. Read the entire story below.
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In the United States, restaurant waitstaff rely on the 20% tips they receive
Image credits: Roshan Mohammed / unsplash (not the actual photo)
A family that gave less than 10% got confronted by their server, who followed them and asked for more
Image credits: Infrarate / unsplash (not the actual photo)
It caught them off guard, as the mom quickly learned about the tipping culture in the US
Image credits: randomsatx
“Guilt tipping” has become a recent trend among Americans
Image credits: Dan Smedley / unsplash (not the actual photo)
If you live in the US and have noticed a shift in tipping trends, you’re not alone. A 2023 survey by LendingTree found that 60% of Americans believe they are tipping more than before.
41% admitted to changing their purchasing habits because of tipping expectations, while 60% believe the trends have gotten out of control. Here’s the kicker: 24% say they “always feel pressured” when the option is there.
Experts refer to the anxiety and stress caused by gratuity as “guilt tipping.” As LendingTree’s chief credit analyst Matt Schulz tells CNBC Make It, consumers are “getting increasingly tired” of it.
“People don’t want to feel like a jerk or cheapskate. Businesses are taking advantage of that,” he explained.
Schulz adds that “bigger-than-usual tips” have become the default option in payment terminals, leaving consumers with almost no choice but to comply.
Other experts like Georgetown University economist Harry Holzer believe it’s an employer’s sneaky practice to pay their staff low wages.
“The whole thing is shifted onto the customer,” Holzer said. “It’s less expensive for [restaurant owners] to hire people.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, waitstaff in the United States earn an average hourly wage of $8.94. Unfortunately, it isn’t expected to change anytime soon.
“Maybe tipping is so culturally ingrained in our country that it will never completely go away, but not leaving a tip isn’t going to make it better,” former food service industry professional turned media personality Darron Cardosa wrote in an article for Food & Wine.
The server’s sentiments were understandable. Fortunately, the family gave him his due tip, despite his reaction.
Some commenters called out the story’s author
However, others believe that tipping customs in the US are getting out of hand
Others shared similar experiences
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What do you think ?
Orysha 8 months ago
Pay your staff living wages, if you can't or don't want to you shouldn't run a business. Mandatory tipping culture is insane.
KatSaidWhat 8 months ago
Every time I consider going to the States, I read this kind of thing and start looking at Europe again.
Susie Elle 8 months ago
Yes it's rude to leave less than a 10% tip in the US, and apparently you can then be expected to be harrassed out the door. Sure, read up on and adhere to other country's cultural things. On the other hand, expecting 20% tip is pushing the boundaries of what you can consider to be normal, and it's real f*****g weird to follow people out the restaurant.
Load More Replies...
Neea P 8 months ago
I think the waiter was way out of line. That kind of rudeness should not be rewarded.
Scott Rackley 8 months ago
Many moons ago I waited tables. Some people don't tip. That's the deal. You just go to the next table. Chasing someone down was just not done.
Load More Replies...
Robert T 8 months ago
The rudeness and arrogance of this galls me. It is not up to the customer to make up your wages. That is the responsibility of your employer. Tips are given for exceptional service, not merely doing your job. A mandatory service charge is NOT a tip! America needs to learn this and change the way they price things in restaurants. Brushing it off as your culture is just stupid. Employees need to know how much they are going to take home at the end of the week.
Thanos'Fingers 8 months ago
I keep telling everybody who will listen to just stop with the mandatory tipping. Go back to the day that you gave 10% for good service, or nothing. Then waiters will make a stink, and it won't be about "people don't tip enough". It will be "my boss won't give me a living wage" like the rest of us plebs. Why should they get special treatment for writing down my exact words on a little notepad and carrying it 25' to someone who does the real work?
Load More Replies...
Gabriel Camomescro 8 months ago
1) I refuse to be guilt-tripped into adding to already expensive meal costs because an employer cannot be bothered to pay a fair wage. 2) Tips are optional, and if they want mandatory "tips" then add a service charge. 3) Follow me out the door and make sure you get a good look because I will not be back. That is unacceptably aggressive behaviour, bordering on stalking.
madeleine f 8 months ago
Someone said 'Don't go out eating if you not prepared to tip 20%'. I would say 'Don't run a business if you cannot afford to pay your staff a decent wage.' And if people who don't pay 20% tip stopped going out, staff and restaurants would have even less money. Stop making your guests feeling uncomfortable and be grateful they visited your restaurant.
Earonn - 8 months ago
Also: "If you're not happy with your wage, take it out on your employer, not your customer".
Load More Replies...
Virgil Blue 8 months ago
Its nuts how Americans themselves defend that toxic tipping culture. Don't they get that's it's, at this point, a scheme to keep them horribly underpaid and insecure? Just because it seems that customers love holding tips over the heads of servers? And don't give me "it's needed to ensure good service". In Europe we generally have excellent service. Maybe because we generally treat staff as humans and not as servants.
Virgil Blue 8 months ago
Addition: your boss should give you a living wage and tips should be a bonus, not something to make up the difference.
Load More Replies...
Blah Blah Blah 8 months ago
We're missing the point here. Is it out of control yes, should you abide by the countries customs you're in, yes. BUT... Americans need to stop blaming the customer for our low wages and DEMAND our employer pay us a living wage and that needs to be done so thru our government! Our entire system needs to change.
R Dennis 8 months ago
I worked in restaurants and the food industry my entire working life. I tip well, but absolutely hate how out of control it is... I don't want to tip at a drive-thru, to pick up a carryout, or anywhere I have to do my own service. Pay living wages, pay employees, stop making their daily wage my responsibility.
Orysha 8 months ago
Pay your staff living wages, if you can't or don't want to you shouldn't run a business. Mandatory tipping culture is insane.
KatSaidWhat 8 months ago
Every time I consider going to the States, I read this kind of thing and start looking at Europe again.
Susie Elle 8 months ago
Yes it's rude to leave less than a 10% tip in the US, and apparently you can then be expected to be harrassed out the door. Sure, read up on and adhere to other country's cultural things. On the other hand, expecting 20% tip is pushing the boundaries of what you can consider to be normal, and it's real f*****g weird to follow people out the restaurant.
Load More Replies... Neea P 8 months ago
I think the waiter was way out of line. That kind of rudeness should not be rewarded.
Scott Rackley 8 months ago
Many moons ago I waited tables. Some people don't tip. That's the deal. You just go to the next table. Chasing someone down was just not done.
Load More Replies... Robert T 8 months ago
The rudeness and arrogance of this galls me. It is not up to the customer to make up your wages. That is the responsibility of your employer. Tips are given for exceptional service, not merely doing your job. A mandatory service charge is NOT a tip! America needs to learn this and change the way they price things in restaurants. Brushing it off as your culture is just stupid. Employees need to know how much they are going to take home at the end of the week.
Thanos'Fingers 8 months ago
I keep telling everybody who will listen to just stop with the mandatory tipping. Go back to the day that you gave 10% for good service, or nothing. Then waiters will make a stink, and it won't be about "people don't tip enough". It will be "my boss won't give me a living wage" like the rest of us plebs. Why should they get special treatment for writing down my exact words on a little notepad and carrying it 25' to someone who does the real work?
Load More Replies... Gabriel Camomescro 8 months ago
1) I refuse to be guilt-tripped into adding to already expensive meal costs because an employer cannot be bothered to pay a fair wage. 2) Tips are optional, and if they want mandatory "tips" then add a service charge. 3) Follow me out the door and make sure you get a good look because I will not be back. That is unacceptably aggressive behaviour, bordering on stalking.
madeleine f 8 months ago
Someone said 'Don't go out eating if you not prepared to tip 20%'. I would say 'Don't run a business if you cannot afford to pay your staff a decent wage.' And if people who don't pay 20% tip stopped going out, staff and restaurants would have even less money. Stop making your guests feeling uncomfortable and be grateful they visited your restaurant.
Earonn - 8 months ago
Also: "If you're not happy with your wage, take it out on your employer, not your customer".
Load More Replies... Virgil Blue 8 months ago
Its nuts how Americans themselves defend that toxic tipping culture. Don't they get that's it's, at this point, a scheme to keep them horribly underpaid and insecure? Just because it seems that customers love holding tips over the heads of servers? And don't give me "it's needed to ensure good service". In Europe we generally have excellent service. Maybe because we generally treat staff as humans and not as servants.
Virgil Blue 8 months ago
Addition: your boss should give you a living wage and tips should be a bonus, not something to make up the difference.
Load More Replies... Blah Blah Blah 8 months ago
We're missing the point here. Is it out of control yes, should you abide by the countries customs you're in, yes. BUT... Americans need to stop blaming the customer for our low wages and DEMAND our employer pay us a living wage and that needs to be done so thru our government! Our entire system needs to change.
R Dennis 8 months ago
I worked in restaurants and the food industry my entire working life. I tip well, but absolutely hate how out of control it is... I don't want to tip at a drive-thru, to pick up a carryout, or anywhere I have to do my own service. Pay living wages, pay employees, stop making their daily wage my responsibility.
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