The Tipping Culture Is Becoming Unhinged And People Share 45 Pics That Prove It

That said, there are situations where tipping isn’t obligatory, says etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. “There are some industries where you’ll want to tip, but there’s other industries that if you’d like to tip, by all means go ahead, but it’s not necessary,” she says. Like, for example, a fast food restaurant, a coffee shop, or other quick-service places where customers might be presented with a tablet screen. 

In general, people have to rely on their common sense for these things, says Gottsman. “If you experienced great service from this person, if there’s a connection between [you and] them, they’re smiling, they’re friendly, and you feel the urge to tip, by all means do so,” she advises. “I never want to discourage a tip, but if you have a six-second exchange—you ask for a cup of coffee, they turn around, pour it from the spout, and hand it to you— that is discretionary.”

To prevent the tipping culture from overall worsening, Ashley believes that we need to push for the abolition of the sub-minimum wage so all workers are guaranteed a fair wage without relying on tips.

“Some businesses have already started experimenting with tip-free models, where they pay their employees higher wages and incorporate that into their pricing,” he notes. “This approach can work if it’s done thoughtfully, with transparency about pricing so customers understand where their money is going. Also, raising awareness about the origins and implications of tipping can help shift public opinion and encourage more people to support these kinds of changes.”