Is tipping supposed to be an obligation for buyers? What was once a token of appreciation for great service has evolved into an encouraged thing that is getting out of control. From drive-throughs to self-checkouts, tipping culture has influenced every aspect of our buying experience, leaving many asking when generosity became an obligation.
Tipping is no longer only demanded in sit-down restaurants or services that require customer service. Even the most basic transactions now need a gratuity. Ordering a burger at the drive-through? Please leave a tip. Ordering a drink at Starbucks? Please leave a tip. There is a prompt for it too. It’s called tipping fatigue, and it’s affecting all aspects of peoples daily life. Tipping fatigue, according to qz.com, “Tipping fatigue is real. It describes how tired Americans are at having to tip for, what feels like, everything, which has become a hot topic of conversation.”
What makes the situation more confusing is that it appears to be only happening in the United States. In other regions of the world, such as Japan, tipping is not only uncommon but also considered disrespectful. “Tipping is mandatory and is expected in more places than when I moved here almost 9 years ago. Customers are expected to tip, even when servers do basic services for us,” parent Meline Khorshidian said.
But, why has tipping become so common? Some say that it is a strategy for making up for the low pay of service workers. While this may have been the original aim, the truth is that it led to a system in which employees’ jobs are dependent on how much tip a customer gives. “Nowadays workers are getting paid less because they are getting tipped. The tip is being counted as a part of their salary,” senior Garo Koesseyan said. It’s a flawed approach that promotes income inequality and leaves workers to only rely on the generosity of strangers.
The pressure to tip can make things uncomfortable for customers and the service staff. Customers may feel bad for not tipping even if the service was poor, but employees may feel entitled to a tip regardless of the quality of their work.
And let’s not forget the inherent unfairness of tipping. Waiter or waitress should not get a tip for completing their job when other professions, such as teachers or nurses, do not.
