Tipping People ‘Just For Doing Their Job’ Strikes A Nerve [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — If you feel as if there’s a new crush of folks to tip since the pandemic began, you’re not alone. It changed not only who and how much to tip, but also led to what one expert on the topic called “tip fatigue.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, “everyone was shell-shocked and feeling generous,” Eric Palm, the CEO of the San Francisco Uptip, which facilitates cashless tipping, told CNBC. But, he said, “you are starting to see people pull back a little bit” with high inflation. Though inflation eased in October, it’s still 7.7 percent higher than it was a year ago.

We asked Patch readers if tipping is out of control for this installment of Block Talk. We asked who they tip and if they’ve ever withheld a tip.

Our questions struck a nerve with Cynthia, who reads Across America Patch.

“I don’t like it,” Cynthia said. “We don’t do food delivery because of the high cost of the automatic tips and high cost of the service.”

At the other end of the tipping spectrum is Di, who reads Joliet Patch and Plainfield Patch in Illinois. When local businesses were closed at the start of the pandemic, she tipped the folks who brought her food and store purchases to her door, usually between 15 percent and 25 percent.

“I’ve also tipped kids helping load my car at grocery stores,” she said, adding she “even gave the children shoveling my driveway more [money] than quoted for the job.”

Tip Jars In ‘Inappropriate Places’

Oh, Di will withhold a tip for “extremely rude service.”

And as for tip jars at service counters? Nope.

“I refuse to utilize those tip jars put at counters,” Di said. “That’s their job to hand out the doughnut or whatever.”

“Tip jars are showing up in inappropriate places,” said Patch reader Peg, who tips service industry workers about 20 percent and gas station attendants $1. Peg said she’s never stiffed anyone on a tip, but does calculate the gratuity based on the quality of service she receives.

“I do believe in tipping but agree it’s gotten out of hand,” Joan, a Narragansett-South Kingstown (Rhode Island) Patch reader said. “When you give a 30 percent tip for your iced coffee every day, you need to readjust.”

She said she’s never withheld a tip, and usually tips around 20 percent.

Patch reader Chris tips restaurant workers, grocery store or restaurant delivery people, but draws the line at tipping for online services.

“Don’t tip for just doing their job, like people working behind the counter at store,” Chris said.

‘They Work Hard’

“Good service deserves to be rewarded,” said Floyd, who said he tips restaurant workers unless they provide “extremely poor service” or display a “rude, bad attitude.”

“They work hard,” said MP, a Barnegat-Manahawkin (New Jersey) Patch reader, said. The mail carrier and sanitation workers get $100 and $50 gratuities annually, the reader said.

A Doylestown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader withholds tips “when the service is not good,” but normally tips the mail carrier and hairdresser.

Reenie, a Danbury (Connecticut) Patch reader, usually tips 20 percent, unless the service is poor, and then it’s 15 percent. She said she’s never withheld a tip. Among those she tips: hairdressers, restaurant wait staff, delivery people, and her masseuse and manicurist.

‘Employers Should Pay Living Wage’

Michigander Charlotte, who reads Detroit Patch, Royal Oak Patch and Rochester-Rochester Hills Patch, said she tips 20 percent or more

“I tip when I get my hair and nails done, delivery drivers, people who work in hotels, taxi and Uber drivers,” Charlotte said. “I don’t tip the mail carrier, who screws up a lot.”

However, she doesn’t think she should be expected to tip “because employers should pay their workers a living wage.”

“I always tip in cash, rather than on a credit card, because I don't trust the employer to give the full tip to the worker,” Charlotte said.

She said she’s reluctant to withhold tips.

“I didn't tip that time the server spilled beer all over me,” Charlotte wrote. “That's probably the only time, unless you count the tip I left in pennies when I was a young smart aleck.

“That probably counts as withholding tips.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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