AIBU to not tip?

[Blackteadrinker77]

Why do we feel the need to tip waiters/waitresses and hair dressers but not other workers on the lowest wage?

I agreed with tipping before their pay was brought in to line with the NMW (as it was at the time) but now it feels wrong to tip them but you don't tip the cleaner who cleaned that restaurant who is on the same wage.

AIBU? Who do you tip and why?

I sometimes tip a taxi driver (don't use them very often) but only to the extent of rounding up eg if the fare is £9 I'll hand over £10 and tell them to keep the change.

I don't tip my hairdresser because I pay by card and there's no option to tip.

In a restaurant I tend to go by the rounding up rule too so you win some and you lose some. If the bill is £51 I'll round up to £60 but if it's £56 I'll also round up to £60. But if it's say £68 I'll probably round up to £75.

A lot of the chains pocket the tips though. I try to leave cash at times but I understand even that goes into a communal fund and the management take a %? If I tip, I want the person I tipped to get the money. Or the staff generally. But not the owners (who are often massive entities these days), they make their money from the food and drink. So I feel like I don't want to tip because I don't want a greedy massive company to get the money.

I tip because when I was a student working three shitty part time jobs around my studies with no other financial help, I could have cried with gratefulness every time someone tipped me.

I tip waiting staff because it's my choice whether I do it or not. When I was a waitress during my student years, I appreciated that people noticed that I did my very best for them all the time. I only tip if they get to keep it and I always ask if they will.
I don't choose to tip other people because it's not compulsory and my choice.

I occasionally tip as a thank you. It enables me to show my gratitude for a brilliant experience. I don't tip for average service or food but if the food/service has been fantastic I enjoy tipping to recognise they've gone above and beyond. Having worked as a waitress, delivery driver etc I know how difficult it is to be constantly perky and friendly and enthusiastic every minute of the day and although I don't expect anything more than civility, somebody going above and beyond is very much recognised/appreciated and I like to show that with a tip.

I tend to only tip waitstaff, and taxi drivers. The latter if they show up on time and are friendly and polite/chatty. Don't tip my hairdresser as it's already £70 per visit!

I agree England is not really a tipping society/culture and it should never ever be expected. I won't tip for average service and have friends who find that odd! I disagree tipping should be a matter of course in a country like this where people earn a NMW. I also fundamentally disagree with the way that Americans are expected to tip to make up the shortfall from employers not even paying a minimum wage. Companies take advantage of social/cultural pressure to allow their customers to pay the wages of their employees and it's disgusting. A tip should be a thank you, not mandatory (or it's meaningless at showing appreciation).

When I worked in those jobs I hugely appreciated tips, even a fiver across an entire shift of pizza delivery was good going and it made a lot of difference on such a low wage. But I never ever felt resentful or bitter at people who didn't give them. You don't know someone's circumstances. It can be so costly to eat out or order takeout, it's so privileged to demand people who may have had to save up for a meal not stick an extra fiver or tenner on the bill at the end too!

I hate tipping. If the minimum wage is set at the correct level, it should be unnecessary.

I only tip when it is socially unavoidable, eg group meals. I am well aware that this is somewhat hypocritical.

I strongly support the minimum wage, and support the policy of the current government (and the coalition before it) to increase it above inflation year after year.

when it is known and globally accepted that you tip servers in certain industries
It's not globally accepted at all. It doesn't seem to be particularly common in Australia, for example.

Because they make a decent income.

I tip anyone who provides me a with a personal service. Its nothing to do with how much they earn.

I tip anyone who provides me a with a personal service

And that is the key thing that most customers dont understand.

I am paid for taking your order, bringing your food etc. I am not paid for taking an interest in your birthday, your childs new shoes or your MIL's hip operation. Thats what people who say "I am not tipped for doing my job" dont get. It isnt what I am paid to do, yet it seems to be expected. I am very polite at all times, courteous and do my job. But anything I do over and above that should surely be acknowledged?

If you dont want to tip then dont but dont be surprised when, on your return visit, your server simply fulfils their paid duties and nothing more. And yes, we will remember you.

I tip in restaurants, imo it is different to other retail jobs because that person has to 'wait' on your table for a period of time. For an evening out you will have that person for the evening. Not quite the same as being in a shop for 20 mins.

A lot of restaraunts add service charge to your bill and use it to pay wages. It is called tronc, Sucks as the workers don't get the tip.

I agree it is unfair how certain workers get tips but not others.

I tip at restaraunts, hotels, taxis, hairdressers at Xmas the post and milkman dog walker. The first 3 as I feel it is expected, the others as I think they do a good job and am happy to give them a bit extra.

If you don't tip eg waitstaff because they are getting nmw, do you also refuse to contribute to eg presents for your children's teachers?

It's customary to tip for service in the UK, and has been for over 100 years.

Hefz The comparison with chipping in for teacher presents isn't a reasonable one. That would only apply if you were giving cash as a percentage of their salary on a regular basis. You are not being presented with a bill, in the state system anyway , and the private system doesn't have a ' suggested service charge' on the bill from the bursar. Hardly the same thing to put in a couple of pounds at Xmas or the end of the year, or buy them yet another candle or 'amusing ' mug.

I was a waitress for several years during college/university.

I don't tip.

I never tip apart from in restaurants (where you feel like you have to) -I'd never heard of tipping taxi drivers or hairdressers till I came on MN.

No fucking way! Hairdressers and taxis cost a fucking fortune as it is.

It’s rude not to tip. It’s poor manners.

No it isn't, and no it isn't.

Sorry I have rtft, but I think tipping is (as what has been said earlier in the thread) selective. I've done it. Tipped the waiter, the hairdresser, the taxi driver. Unless they have been abysmal at their job, which is very rare, I have tipped.

It's something that I've always done. Looking at it now, it seems ludicrous. The way 'society' seems worthy of tipping or not the 'selective'

The NMW is way below the living wage. Until the Government realises this, things aren't going to change.

I think it's very patronising to tip. A bit Lady Bountiful. I can't help but visualise the person being tipped tugging at their forelock whilst profusely thanking the donor. Very degrading.

Everyone should be able to earn a decent living wage, with dignity, without the need to rely on a tip.

I tip for really good service, not standard service other than rounding up. That's not a tip to me, it's just easier. For really good service, over and above, I'll tip.

Waiting staff are NOT providing a personal service. They are not 'yours for the duration of your meal', they're servicing your table. They're part of a team, they don't cook the food, they bring it to you and take the plates away. I think they're paid a wage that they've agreed to take in payment for the work that they do. I wouldn't go to a restaurant that depended on tips to pay their workers. Nobody should.

Anybody who says 'if you can afford to eat out you can afford to tip' is a bit daft. It's a gratuity, not a right or an entitlement and you're already being paid to do your job. If people stop eating out for the sake of your tip, how would that benefit you exactly?

I think tipping should stop; I agree with apostropheuse that it's patronising. I would prefer to truly delight somebody with an unexpected sum rather than tip an entitled server who delivers no more than they're paid to do. I don't want or expect entertainment or conversation, just do the job that you applied for and accepted.

I never tip. My partner does and gets embarrassed when i don't tip. But they are on a wage and doing what is their job! I didn't get tipped for my minimum wage jobs when I did them.

I also don't understand the mentality of tipping because 'some customers are rude and objectionable'. How does an extra pound from a different customer help that in any way?

I usually just round up the final bill to the nearest tenner, but reading some of the entitled posts by people on here who work as waitresses I will be giving the exact money in future,

I don't think you should tip.

I used to work in a pub where it might seem customary to do it, but not everyone did. Not that I think anyone should have done at the time anyway.

A few years ago, when I did work there keeping in mind it was a very popular place, very busy most times even. Nando's staff next door would come in after their shifts and would have handfuls of tips. It made me think I should probably work there. The job was easier at least. A lot easier (in my opinion) from what I was doing. And the hours were more sociable as well.

I know you can pick and choose whoever the fuck you want to tip, but at the same time I think it doesn't make sense.

It’s rude not to tip. It’s poor manners.

It really isn't. Presuming you're not in the UK.As if you are, you REALLY don't need to and you really don't have to.
Unless you're in London where they say you don't have to but really they're entitled and shoot evils and you just think they're going to spit in your drink when you're not looking
Really,really, not expected in this part. If people do, all good. If people don't, all good as well.

I think it's very patronising to tip. A bit Lady Bountiful. I can't help but visualise the person being tipped tugging at their forelock whilst profusely thanking the donor. Very degrading.

Completely agree. Monetary version of pat on the head as they were clever and nice enough to do a good job, wasn't that good of them, chuck them some extra pennies!