To think we should all stop tipping now?

[MuggedByReality]

Tomorrow the minimum wage increases to £11.44 per hour. That’s an increase of 9.8%. It also increased by 9.7% last year. Inflation is currently 4.5%.

This is obviously a very good thing for millions of workers in low paid employment across the country and, whatever else the government has got wrong, it deserves credit for pushing through such large increases.

The minimum wage is now set at a level at which it provides fair & reasonable pay for unskilled service industry work. Therefore tipping such workers is no longer necessary or appropriate, so I won’t be tipping anyone anywhere from now on. AIBU?

Exactly this, it’s bizarre and ridiculous!

Don't be so ridiculous. Nobody is saying that some jobs shouldn't be paid better than others. Do you not think though that everyone should be able to afford the basics?

'@kitsuneghost
Yes. I stopped tipping after covid
I am not well paid enough to sub other people any more.''

Exactly.

As a person with long term health issues who can only work part-time I simply can't afford to tip.

I have to watch every penny and even going for a simple coffee is a treat for me that I have to budget for. I can't justify subsiding other people's wages.

Instead I expect companies to pay their staff enough so they can have a decent life and not have to rely on tips.

I could count on one hand the amount of times I’ve tipped anyway, it’s really not expected in the UK.

I tip my hairdresser, because he's a very good hairdresser, and we go back a bit. He works for a salon, and when they were about to re-open after Covid, he phoned around all his clients in person to book them in first. I nearly cried and I repay that loyalty by tipping him. I probably need to nudge the amount up slightly as it is under 10%.

It's really hard not to tip restaurant staff these days, as in most cases it is included in the bill, and I don't mind that as it stops all those agonised discussions with your friends about how much to leave and so on.

PLENTY of jobs are shit hours and bloody hard work, and the implication on here that someone deserves tips more - in hospitality - because you work soooo hard is just insulting - and a rude and ignorant attitude. It's strongly implying other people do not work hard, and don't deserve tips as much as you!

And yes that poster IS implying people working in hospitality are more deserving of tips than anyone else, and it's totally untrue and insulting to many very hard working people. Especially those in the emergency services!

The fact that care work is paid minimum wage is one of the most ludicrous things i have ever heard. That sounds significantly harder to me than hospo.

@OpalOwl · Today 19:19

I have 35 years nursery experience, qualified in childcare for 20 years currently at level 6, which is a degree level qualification. For this I am paid at minimum wage. Its not much really even with rises.
I always tip waiting staff, hairdressers, taxis, manicurist even though many of them earn more than me.
Its a strange culture.

Why? Why do you tip all these people?

I agree there are many people who work hard for shit money and could do with the tips

I don’t tip to make up someone’s wages. I tip for good service. I generally hope that tips I give in restaurants etc are used for workers to treat themselves, as opposed to make up their wages.

And yes that poster IS implying people working in hospitality are more deserving of tips than anyone else

Not more deserving exactly, certainly there are harder jobs paid minimum wage. I think it is the personal interaction at play, the caring nature of the service which is why we are tipped.

Tips are tips regardless some ppl rely on them

I always check with the server as to who pockets the tips !

Absolutely. It’s terribly wrong. And care is such a delicate thing to do. We ask these people to look after our loved ones yet don’t campaign for them to be paid a decent wage and be given the right training.

I was curious and did the sums on how much I’d have to live on if I earned minimum wage.

Using my current circumstances, I’d be eligible for an £80 UC top up each week. So I guess on that basis for a start you can’t really say it’s enough to live on. Otherwise it wouldn’t need topping up. (I have DC but both over 18 so they didn’t factor in).

Taking out rent, bills, travel to work etc, it would leave me with approx £150p/w for food and anything else. Tight but doable.

So it really means I guess that tips would be providing some “fun” money to the person. So how you feel about that could influence whether you tip or not. They don’t necessarily “need” it to live. Although obviously circumstances vary.

I tip my hairdresser, beautician.,Takeaway delivery men, taximan and a restaurant if the service is good and goes into the server’s pocket. I will continue to do so.

i don't think tipping has caught on in a massive way here. everyone i know- and myself usually put a few quid on the table after a meal but that's the extent of it. don't tip anyone else at all.

The service industry isn't unskilled. And why do you think you can live on £12 ph?
I will happily tip restaurant workers, it's a hard job.

No you're not being unreasonable. I've done a degree to do the job that I do, have over a decade of experience, often go above and beyond, make a huge impact on disabled children's lives and very rarely get a thank you from their families, never mind getting anything extra (and I really don't earn that much). So I don't tip anyone else.

are you being serious? some people wipe dirty arses and mop urine and vomit for minimum wage. don't be so avaricious

You do realise that your ‘fair and reasonable’ pay is still pretty shite and that most people earning this will still struggle.

But hey, you stop tipping if you want.

I disagree, rents and bills have increased by up to 30% in some areas in 2 years. Same I imagine for bills and food, possibly more. This increase is a drop in ocean compared to this.
I will always tip in restaurants, mainly because I relied on tips myself when I was young, and I try and tip the trainees and apprentices in hairdressers and cabs if I don’t feel they’re taking the piss with the price. It’s just a kind thing to do unless you’re struggling yourself.

My whole life, my dad has tipped 25%. Doesn’t matter if dinner is £400 or £50, he’ll tip 25%. Does the same for my mum’s hairdresser (and his), and takeaways they get, any sort of personal care customer service type thing (not dentists and stuff). But he can afford it. I can’t! And I think tipping really is optional here, and no one should be made to feel like that have to. So what’s the point in debating it for so long?

I stopped a long time ago, tipping is really outdated as a customary practice and one NMW came in, there really wasn't a need for it.

I still do give extra money directly to people where I want to do that, but I don't feel obliged.

Agree with PP, we need an affordable society for everyone, regardless of wage.

You're daft if you think £11.44 is a "fair and reasonable" wage. And it isn't just 'unskilled' workers being payed minimum wage. I won't be able to tip any more as, though I work full time in a very busy role within NHS radiology, as of tomorrow I earn 1p over NMW. I have a degree, several healthcare qualifications and over 10 years exeperience within my dept. Thanks Rishi.