Summary:
Why do we tip—even when we know we’ll never see the server again? New research suggests it’s not just about rewarding good service, but about social pressure. Some people tip out of genuine appreciation, while others simply follow the norm. But here’s the twist: those who truly value great service tend to tip more than average, and everyone else adjusts upward to match them.
those who truly value great service tend to tip more than average, and everyone else adjusts upward to match them
That is to say, there are a few people who we can clearly recognize as acting more thoughtful, respectful, and considerate and we ape them in hope of gaining some of the same social status, resetting the social norm over time.
In the US, tipping is such a trash fire. The problem is that you’re practically trapped in the system. It’s being implemented all over the place now, but restaurants are the classic example. If you go to a restaurant, the tipping standard is now about 20%, but 25% is not uncommon. You can technically choose to not tip, which allows the restaurant to pay your waiter less than minimum wage for that service. (technically the restaurant has to pay them more to make up for undertipping, but it’s average, not per-hour)
So your choices as an individual are to: tip the standard 20-25% (participating in an awful system), not tip (enabling criminally low wages), or never eat at restaurants. There were a few no-tip restaurants that popped up in my area a few years ago that I tried to support, but they all went out of business, likely because people can’t do math - “these restaurants cost 20% more! I’m never gonna go there and instead I’ll go to that other place and tip 20%!” It fucking sucks and everyone hates it, but there are basically no proposals to ever change it.
Yeah fuck tipping. The very thought of having to deal with it keeps me from eating out at sit down restaurants more often than not.
Don’t get me started about tip screens when I’m picking up food to go.
