Why People are in a Tipping Tizzy
The current state of affairs in the American tipping culture…
If you live in the US, I’m sure you’ve noticed how many more businesses are now asking you for a tip. Thanks to the touch-screen technology, systems are programmed to suggest a gratuity amount.
When you consider the rising cost of consumer goods, we should be saving our bucks. So when would it be appropriate to tip?
People are angry about the state of tipping in the US. They are being asked to tip more often and in higher amounts than before. Even when you buy your morning coffee, the barista flips the screen around for you to add on a little more — leaving you fraught with guilt and pressure.
So now, a computer screen is asking people what they want to do, in circumstances where tipping didn’t used to happen at all.
There are terms like “tipflation” and “guilt-tipping” now. On top of the high prices, you’re supposed to tip as well.
In the vast majority of cases, tipping is optional. Tip requests aren’t that big a deal — it’s the emotions around it that are. You can just say “no” — plenty of people do. However, most people think they should because some workers’ livelihoods depend on tips.
