My Tips on Tipping
Oh, the gratuity debate. It’s just so…touchy. Tipping is an added expense, especially in an economy where people are watching their money more closely than ever, and I can’t help but question the commonly accepted tipping standard that exists. (i.e., tipping at seemingly all “service” industries). First, before you call me a cheapy chicken, I would like to say that I do tip, quite generously and once in a while, if the service is exceptionally awesome, borderline obscenely, and in most cases, it’s my choice to do so. In theory, though, I am opposed to the practice of tipping for a couple of reasons.
It’s Deceptive, and Random
It is easy to see why employers like having tipped employees. They can pay their employees $2.13 an hour and the customer picks up the rest of the wages. Wait, what?! So the EMPLOYEES are expecting the customer to pay the difference in their wages. But why should the responsibility of ensuring fair compensation fall on the shoulders of the patron? Weird.
A larger problem I have is the randomness of the tipping system. I’m supposed to tip the server at Chili’s, hair stylist, manicurist, massage therapist, and Starbucks barista, but not the librarian who went out of their way to recommend books they knew I would love, or the flight attendant who occupied my 5 year old on the first leg of a 16 hour flight, or even my neighbor, who cut my grass last week while my husband was deployed. See what I’m getting at here?
If it’s Expected, or Required, it’s No Longer a Gratuity
The societal expectation is to tip 18% unless the service is completely horrible. So, a custom that once helped customers by giving an incentive to employees to provide a high level of service doesn’t really provide that value any more. If a gratuity is added to the bill, then it’s no longer a gratuity, it’s a service charge. For my daughter’s eighth birthday party, I hired a DJ to spin some tunes. On the invoice that I received BEFORE the party, was an 18% gratuity added, due in full prior to the event. So essentially, I was expected to pay for exceptional service, for a service that I was already paying for, before the service was actually provided. Are you as confused as I was? Tipping for a service that you are already paying for seems like a cash grab. If I have already paid for the actual act of service (nails, massage, lawn care) why am I tipping too? I am a professional, and when I do my job, I get paid. I don’t expect my clients to tip me on top of the invoice I am sending them. Seems rather silly.
What’s My Solution?
How would I propose to fix the situation? I can choose not to patronize businesses where tips are expected, but I am not sure I am not that strong. I do really enjoy a good pedicure. Realistically though, business owners should pay tip-based employees a fair wage (like, at least minimum) and make tipping an OPTION intended to reward service above and beyond the expected level. Good service=happy customer=repeat business=happy business owner. It seems only fair to put the majority of the cost of employment on the actual employer – the person who receives the most benefit from the employee. What are your thoughts on tipping?
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