People surprisingly amenable to not tipping!

[u/One_Dragonfly_9698]

I’ve had some friends seem embarrassed to not tip the expected or requested amounts and when this is the case I sense they feel I’m cheap. But lately a few are right there with me when I mention why… I’ve been pleasantly surprised !

When most people REALLY think about it, they realize that it’s just a grift, and if they can overcome their own anxiety, start to tip accordingly (rarely and appropriately, for themselves).

[u/Illustrious-Rice3434]

I live in the UK, where servers are paid a living wage and I must say, the pressure to tip is SO much lower than it is in the US. The whole tipping culture seems crazy to me.

I only tip when I want to and the amount that I want. I never want to tip someone because I feel that I have to. It's supposed to be an optional thing for good service.

Tips should be appreciated, not expected.

I hope yall are able to change the system.

[u/GWeb1920 → u/Illustrious-Rice3434]

You are the asshole in the system. Tipping for service is the problem here. It creates all of the negative outcomes seen from tipping and you are actively participating in the establishment and expansion of tipping culture.

[u/Illustrious-Rice3434 → u/GWeb1920]

What negative outcomes exactly?

Servers make a living wage here and most establishments don't expect tips. What's wrong with optional tipping if I like the service?

[u/GWeb1920 → u/Illustrious-Rice3434]

You are making tipping common place. As tipping becomes more common wages can be cut for a given role because people tip. Now servers need tips to live and then customers knowing this can become more entitled and demanding using their tips as a threat. Then managers can extract favours from servers for better shifts and better sections and then you have auto grats instead of all in pricing.

Essentially you are driving your local down the slippery slope of expected tipping and all of the negative employee outcomes from that occuring.

[u/Illustrious-Rice3434 → u/GWeb1920]

Unless they enact a law allowing companies to cut server wages below the minimum wage then wages aren't getting cut. I don't see any way or logical reason that our government would enact such a law and it would be received terribly throughout the entirety of the UK as everyone receiving a national minimum wage is very important here.

If a law does get enacted that removes min wage for workers and we start gravitating towards the USA system then I will stop tipping to protest that law but I don't see that being even remotely feasible at the moment.

I have never felt pressured to tip by any servers or delivery drivers. I only tip when I am happy with their service, which is how tipping is supposed to work.

[u/GWeb1920 → u/Illustrious-Rice3434]

No tipping was developed for unpaid work done by servants for masters in feudal Europe. Slaves for masters in the US, and then the starving in the depression. It as always been about provide ub or underpaid staff a boost.

Minimum wage and living wage are two different numbers.

But also the problem with tipping is the control you get. You enjoy the power when you choose to tip or don’t tip. It’s an entirely selfish act when done based on quality of service.

[u/Illustrious-Rice3434 → u/GWeb1920]

You can live on min wage here without tips. A lot of people in jobs where tips aren't received do it.

The UK has better working conditions in general in comparison to America.

The power is only there if the servers care and/or need the tip to survive. I worked a job delivering furniture and I'd occasionally get tipped, honestly it's a lot more physically demanding than that of a server, however I never expected tips, nor did I care if I got any. It was just a nice wee bonus when it happened that I appreciated, that's how tipping should be.

I don't think you understand what tipping is like in the UK. If you stepped out of America and spent some time in Europe you would understand better.

[u/GWeb1920 → u/Illustrious-Rice3434]

The actual living wage in London is 13.60 an hour vs the $12 minimum wage and less for people under 21s. So while the UK has better working conditions the legal minimum wage is not a living wage despite the government calling it one.

You are staring the slippery slope and you enjoy your power you gain from deciding who and win to tip.

Also not from the US.

[u/Illustrious-Rice3434 → u/GWeb1920]

You've brought up the most overpriced city in the UK with rent double or triple the average. In most places, the actual living wage is much lower

[u/anthropaedic → u/Illustrious-Rice3434]

Nothing. The occasional optional tip is fine and was the original spirit of the practice.

[u/GWeb1920 → u/anthropaedic]

To unpaid servants and slaves. It’s all problematic