Around a year ago, my friends decided to go to Red Robin after one of their birthday parties. I had prior engagements and was unable to attend, but was secretly thankful because I didn’t want to spend a single cent of my $100 paycheck on another mediocre dining excursion. This moment would have gone forgotten in my mind if one of my friends didn’t text me after the dinner, dying to share the absurd tipping habits of the birthday girl.
On a $20 meal, she tipped her server 45 cents.
45 cents? I asked my friend if their experience reflected this miserable tip, but she said the service was great and the food was delicious. The problem, in reality, was that the birthday girl “didn’t have the money to tip,” and didn’t show any signs of guilt for slighting that poor server. I was astounded, especially because my friend works in the food industry, so she knows how hard and stressful service jobs are.
If she didn’t have the money to tip, why did she go out to eat in a sit-down restaurant in the first place? And why did none of my other friends say anything to her?
What if they hold the same beliefs?
I’ve noticed a phenomenon recently surrounding tipping culture: some Gen Zers believe that tipping is optional. In any video you see regarding tipping, at least one comment will be a variation of “I just don’t get paid enough, I’d have to work two jobs,” or the more aggressive, “It’s the employer’s job to pay their employees, not the customer.”
According to a poll conducted by USA Today, only 35% of Gen Z always tip when they go to a sit-down restaurant, compared to 56% of Millenials, 78% of Gen X’ers, and 86% of Baby Boomers. When compared to the percentage of Gen Z workers in the restaurant industry, which has a mean of 71% across full time and part time positions, the tipping statistic is incompatible. Why are Gen Zers more likely to not tip their servers when they themselves know how grueling the service industry is, and how much servers rely on these tips as a form of income?
The common argument against tipping is that, as customers, we shouldn’t be responsible for supplementing the low minimum wage set by the government for service workers. While that sentiment is inherently valid, the United States unfortunately is not one of the many countries that provide servers with a livable wage, forcing a dependence on tipping culture. For the average American, the extra money spent on tipping can be an annoyance, especially considering that it’s not a global requirement. Nevertheless, it’s even worse for the servers, bussers, and cooks that depend on others for their salary, which fluctuates day-to-day based on the mood and opinions of their patrons. It isn’t fair for either party involved, but that’s how the industry is set up in our country, so it’s our job to help our fellow workers out. As a working college student, I completely understand the plight of not having nearly enough money to go the places you want to. However, if you go to a restaurant where someone is waiting on you, they are providing a service for you, and deserve the respect of receiving adequate compensation.
Many people, including myself, grew up hearing that 20% is the customary tip to leave in a restaurant and still hold that principle. Even when the service is unsatisfactory, a tip should still be given, usually between the 10–15% range. You never know when someone is having a bad day, or has six other tables to wait on, so it is always important to give servers the benefit of the doubt—they’re people too.
However, a dilemma emerges when the generosity of those who tip well at restaurants—no matter their age or situation—is exploited through a recent implementation into the service industry: the electronic payment model.
Many fast food chains across the country have recently added forms of electronic payment in their restaurants. Kiosks, whether by the register or at the front of the restaurant, provide a quick and efficient ordering service to patrons, limiting the amount of mistakes on orders and eliminating the need for a cashier.
When purchasing food or drinks, the screen used for payment shows the option to tip with “suggested” tipping options predetermined by the establishment. The percentages usually range from 10–20% in intervals, and sometimes 15–25% if the company feels daring. Despite knowing that these workers make almost twice the amount per hour as compared to servers, customers feel obligated to tip fast food workers, who are usually only handing them a cup of coffee.
Daniela Canas, a freshman at Emerson, expressed that she “almost feels guilty not clicking 25% or something” when at a fast food restaurant, a 5% higher percentage than what she would customarily tip at sit-in restaurants.
The guilt stretches even to millennials as social sciences Professor Kara McCabe says “I feel like a bad person if I don’t [tip]…” and believes that “if the tip wasn’t there on the screen, I wouldn’t [tip].”
A report found that one in three Americans feel pressured to leave a tip at a fast food restaurant, with over 73% reporting that they usually leave a digital tip when presented the option to. Why is it that Americans are more likely to tip a worker who makes a more “liveable” wage as compared to a sit-in restaurant server who makes $3 per hour after tax?
The pressure felt by the glaring eyes of a Starbucks employee is the reason why this occurs. When you tip a server in a restaurant, most of the time, they aren’t staring into your soul implying they want a tip. But, since fast food restaurants—where only a counter separates the customer from the cashier, cooks, and managers—do not give that choice, employees might outwardly express their discontent when a customer selects “no tip”, even if it’s through a disappointed sigh or the subtle drop of a smile.
My message to everyone who feels pressured to tip at fast food restaurants is to simply not tip. You are not required to tip a service worker that makes over $15 per hour, and you shouldn’t be guilt-tripped into it. Leave a tip if you like your barista, or if you know the place gives you extra fries, but it is never necessary. They are getting paid decently well to make a quick meal or drink for you, and don’t need a tip as much as a waiter who is dealing with multiple tables and curating an experience for you.
To those who usually don’t tip servers well at restaurants, or even not at all, I ask you to consider giving at least 15% next time you go out to eat. Those servers are working hard to serve you, and that’s a luxury that should be respected and appreciated. If you don’t have enough money to tip at a sit-in restaurant, simply don’t go. Try a fast food restaurant, or make a trusty container of cheap ramen and eat your heart out.
