To wonder if tipping is necessary anymore… ?

[FrustratedOldLady]

Got into a random conversation with my teen daughters the other day when they saw me leave a tip for their haircuts.
So they were asking why we tip hairdressers and waiters, when other jobs don’t get tipped, however good a job they do. Especially now that there’s a minimum wage across the board.
My eldest works in a supermarket while doing A-levels so doesn’t get a tip obviously, but her friend who works in a gastro pub does (even though her hourly rate is higher to start with).
So she was saying ‘so if I go out for a meal or get a hair cut, I should tip someone who is earning more than me?’
I said it was just expected for certain industries, but that it’s up to her. It got me thinking though. Is tipping still necessary/fair?

YABU - yes, tipping is still necessary
YANBU - maybe time to stop, there’s a minimum wage now

'Now'? There's been a minimum wage in the UK for over 25 years?

Tipping has never been necessary, but is something we do to show appreciation for good personal service.

Your DD has assumed a hairdresser is paid more than her, but many are self-employed and after costs their income may be lower.

But either way, a haircut or manicure is different to a shop purchase, just as proper table service is different to counter service.

Tipping is optional but is still appropriate IMO.

Self employed hairdressers factor into their prices the costs of things so they will still be on a decent wage if they’re working good hours.

I've never tipped a hairdresser in my life, I had no idea until I started using Mumsnet that that was even a thing people did. So no, to your daughter, there is no 'should'.

Showing my age 😆
I mean more that the minimum wage or living wage has levelled out the pay between some industries

It's also a way for Billy-Big-Bollocks men to tip in advance hotel managers, maitre'd's, and people who carve meat at your table to make themselves feel like they are important and know the ways of the world.
I mean, no one is going to say 'your cash is no good here sir' 😆

This one is definitely employed, but yes I get that some aren’t. But then, that could be said for other industries where tipping isn’t expected.

I tip hairdresser, nail tech, cab drivers, delivery drivers (uber eats/deliveroo), waiting staff if service not included or they’ve given outstanding service; postman and binmen at Christmas.

Also rather sad one but always tip the hearse driver. Maybe just a family thing.

I don't generally tip. It's outdated

Yes I would love to know what proportion of people still leave a 10% tip in restaurants. We still do, but eating out has got insanely expensive now. Paying £18 per burger feels enough, especially as part of the reason for these higher prices is often cited as higher wage bill due to NMW increases.

I don’t tip as I find it really awkward and never know how much to give. I also tend to pay card everywhere. Taxi is the only place I pay cash and I’ll round to the nearest note so I don’t have loose change.

No it's not

I'm going to stop tipping in restaurants unless the service is outstanding. I also really object to service charge being added on to bills in restaurants. Ok if it's a large group and this is specified beforehand but it's mostly sneakily added to the bill & people end up paying it without realising, and leaving a tip as well!

It never was necessary imo. I think it's another American cultural import. It's okay to tip, but to feel obliged or even guilted into tipping is wrong. Tips are extra money, and that's always helpful, but it should never be expected.

I tip delivery drivers and Uber drivers as they probably aren't earning minimum wage. Sometimes in a restaurant if I feel they've really made it special.

My child has worked stacking shelves in a supermarket and now works behind a bar. Both paid the same hourly wage. She takes home a lot more money now. But it is a job that's harder to get and requires more skill to do well, and she earns those tips.

Maybe your eldest should look for a tipped job rather than working in a supermarket?

It is not, and never was, necessary.

I don't really agree with tipping being customary as I believe the employer ought to be paying the appropriate wages. Mostly in restaurants now the tips are shared evenly between all employees (including those you don't interact with at all), so it is not a personal reward to the staff who individually served you.

By having service charges it enables the employer to pay a lower wage, but attract better staff. However, when on sick, or maternity, furlough (when it happened) or when made redundant - the tips are not counted as earnings. It is less stable for the employee than if they were simply paid the rate directly from the employer, with the 10% added directly onto the food cost (or, the profits for shareholders being bought down a little lower!).

I say this as someone who would not earn the 'real' living wage without tips.

I don’t think she cares that she doesn’t get tips herself.
She just doesn’t understand why other jobs roles do, when they’re on the same/similar wage to her.

I didn’t realise they could pay a lower wage by taking tips into account, that seems a bit of a loop hole for paying under the minimum 🤔

Some places are 12.5% now, which is more than I’d choose to tip personally. I’d usually round up the amount so it came in at around 10%.
There was one time a while back where we’d had 💩 service and DH asked for the service charge to be taken off.
The manager came over to ask him why and not in a ‘what can we learn/improve’ way but a ‘how dreadful of you not to tip’ way.
DH did explain the reasons why, but he pointed out that he didn’t really need a reason as service was optional. It was really awkward 😬

Because that's the way the world is. Why do some jobs pay more than others?

Fair play to your DH. I would have done the same if the service was crap. One time I went out to lunch with dd1 & they added on a service charge. I just rounded up the total to the nearest £. The waitress then came back over and said "you haven't paid enough". I replied "yes I have".

They can't pay less than minimum wage but it means rather than staff getting minimum wage they get around £14 per hour or so (the extra coming from tips). But then when on maternity, you get paid your salary from the employer - not including tips. When we were furloughed we received 80% of wages
...from the employer. Minus tips. If made redundant the payout is based on earnings from employer - not tips. If on suspension with full pay - minus tips. See what I mean?

Also when applying for a mortgage they won't take tips as secure pay..so affects how much you can borrow. It's much better to simply be paid the higher rate than be paid minimum wage plus tips.