Have you heard, over the last few years, of restaurants that have ended tipping altogether? I keep coming across articles about these, like this one in the New York Times:
Instead of expecting customers to tip the people who wait on them, tip-free restaurants pay all employees wages that reflect their skill and seniority. The customer pays a fixed amount, stated in writing (in menu prices), as in virtually every other kind of consumer business, from Nordstrom to Netflix to The New York Times. [continue]
Maybe one of these days a restaurant in my area will try this, but I’m not holding my breath.
An interesting article that shows how difficult it is to effect change to established structures and behaviours! We don’t have any obligatory tipping in Australia but a “service charge” has gradually crept on to the bill in many better restaurants and it is considered good form to reward exemplary service with a small tip. I am glad that we don’t have the same culture of tipping as in the States and am interested to read about these efforts to change this culture. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome. 🙂
What sort of percentage are you talking about when you mention a “small tip” for exemplary service in Australia?