Tipping became normalized in America after the Civil War, yet according to a research article from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, it didn’t originally start in America, but in England. English travellers in the 16th century would visit their friends and give money to servants, known as vails, as a way to compensate the servants for the extra work they had to do. These servants began to expect the vails, and travellers were often threatened if they did not give them to the servants.
Even though tipping had become popular in England, it widened the class divide. America was very “anti-tipping,” because according to the article, people thought that this practice opposed the country’s principle of all men being created equal. America also lacked the commercial establishments, like coffeehouses, that England had. But Americans would eventually begin to travel to England after the Civil War and would bring this custom back to America.
Now, according to a research article from the UCLA Dashew Center, tipping has become more common in America, with a 15% to 20% tip being the expected amount in some sit-down restaurants and transportation services like Uber. While it is very common here in America, other countries, like Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark and Australia, that don’t tip or tip very little are usually surprised or confused by the tipping norm.
Sophomore Jocelyn Arechiga usually tips 20% at sit-down restaurants she goes to, depending on the amount of service given, and was surprised when she traveled to places where tipping isn’t expected, or even accepted.
“When I traveled to Korea, it was a big shock, because when I went there, they consider tips rude, because it’s their job to do good,” Arechiga said.
Places like Australia and Belgium also don’t require tips from customers since the charge for service is already added into the bill. But while tipping is the standard in America, it is not always necessary to tip.
According to a research article from the Pew Research Center, compared to older people, young people in high school are more likely to see tipping as an obligation rather than a choice or recommendation. Sophomore Rongsheng Wen believes tipping is not mandatory or necessary since you are already paying for the food.
“I guess tipping is… It’s just a form of extra. It’s just over the top, you know, just giving them extra for how they treated you there,” Wen said.
Even though some customers don’t find tipping mandatory, some restaurant workers rely on tips for finances. According to a research article from the Marriott Student Review from Brigham Young University, workers prefer tips because they might be higher than their hourly pay.
Since sit-down restaurants are usually the ones that include tipping because of the servers only being paid minimum wage, office staff Connie Jara tips 20% or more at restaurants, depending on the service. She believes it is necessary, as workers may need a cash tip at the end of their shift.
“I believe it is necessary because people are out there trying to make a living, and tips, I think, a lot of the people depend on tips,” Jara said.
Even though some business owners wanted to remove this practice, and other countries don’t have tipping norms, this practice has become the norm in America and is likely to continue, as many restaurant workers depend on tips.
