Articles comparing tipping culture in the UK to that in the US (‘It’s absolutely criminal’: US tipping culture has reached the UK – and is causing chaos, 24 August) do not go into the complication of minimum wage calculation in the US. There, wait staff are paid a low base rate, but employers must ensure their earnings are topped up to at least the minimum wage through tips.
As an American who has lived in the UK for 27 years, I have endless discussions with American visiting friends about tipping, and how their example of cultural imperialism has resulted in the distortion of worker value for some of the reasons set out in this article (for example, more attractive people get better tips). The assumption is that people who wait on others don’t have as much money as the tipper, but do we know if this is true? With this logic, should we tip the person who serves us at TK Maxx or Aldi?
Adding to the mix is that the software companies are making money out of us as well. I urge Brits to resist this new trend and press “no tip” on the blasted machine. It’s not about being stingy. If wait staff, or anyone else, are not making a minimum wage, it’s not up to us to subsidise the employer and stump up our earned and taxed pennies to help them out. The onus is on the employer to pay at least the minimum wage, or higher.
Pam Foley
Oxford
In Japan, soliciting tips has traditionally been seen as begging, and to accept a tip seen as an insult to one’s professional pride. Any business which looked to make tips even quasi-mandatory would be bashed into submission and apology for violating the social norm. (And this is not because service workers are on high wages and wouldn’t benefit from having the tip money, incidentally.)
Even so, at cafes in certain touristy hotspots in Tokyo today you will occasionally see a tipping jar. I’ve heard that this is mostly for fashion – a cute tip jar might add character to a bijou outlet’s cash register – and that any proceeds inadvertently acquired will generally be put into a charity donation box at a convenience store.
Matt Stratford
Eltham, London
On our first visit to Australia over 30 years ago we tried to tip the wait person in a diner after a wonderful meal with great service. They quietly admonished us: “You don’t tip here, because we get fair pay.” An egalitarian society where there’s no awkwardness around social status. It’s one of the reasons we decided to stay. Campaign for fair wages, not tips.
Jane Pearce
Perth, Australia
The one and only time I tried to tip in New Zealand, the taxi driver refused to accept it.
Lesley Elliott
Auckland, New Zealand
The one that riles me more than anything is the tipping to a charity. “Would you like to donate to …” and the vibe coming from the other side of the counter when you tap no. I will not be told which charities I donate to (I give to local ones where I live), so you can carry on looking as wounded as you like!
Alison Maloney
Oxford
I was heartened to read your article as I now feel vindicated in my ongoing battle against tipping, when being asked to do so (by a non-smiling staff member) in a local cafe where I am just buying a loaf of bread that I have picked up and put in a bag myself.
Jason Beard
London
I have never given a tip to anyone. I take the view that I have paid the correct price for the service and that’s an end to the matter. This has caused some embarrassment on the part of my friends and family, but never to me.
Shirley Parker-Gore
Peasmarsh, East Sussex
Let’s start paying with cash again. It will return control over tipping decisions to customers.
Andrew Green
St Just, Cornwall
In France, where I live, a restaurant menu is the whole menu and includes tap water, bread, vegetables and indeed the service tip. You can usually see the price before you go in, and unless you want to brag, the correct sum is already on the card machine when this is handed to you for payment. No embarrassing confrontation, no bad surprises. Though if you have received especially attentive service, you can obviously leave a note or coin when you leave.
Mette Macrae
Mormoiron, France
