Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Is 'out of control' US tipping culture spreading overseas?
In the US, tipping is a standard practice for services such as restaurants,
taxis and rideshares, doormen and bellboys, and delivery services. Among these,
servers at restaurants depend most of their income on tips from their customers
because their minimum hourly wage is set significantly lower than the federal minimum
wage. The expected restaurant tip in the US was 10% to 15% of the bill in the
mid to late 20th century, but it has risen to 18% or higher today, partly due to
pre-programmed electronic payment machines that often suggest 18%, 20%, 22%,
and 25%. In large cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, a 20% tip is mostly
expected. Tipping/gratuity is a unique practice in the USA, and it is not
expected in most other countries. However, when American travelers dine in
restaurants abroad, they often leave tips for their servers. This has made
serving staff expect tips from other customers, too, which makes locals
annoyed. Another influencer of tipping practice is rideshare services, like
Uber, which also show tipping options in other countries where they operate. If
you travel abroad, you may want to ask AI if you should leave tips, where, to whom,
and how much in advance.
Read the article and learn about how tipping is practiced in the USA
and other countries.
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