Tipping is a weird, anachronistic, degrading, and yet ubiquitous and multicultural custom. Certain service providers get tipped, others don't. Those who do, depend on those tips to supplement an otherwise insufficient wage. Those who don't, presumably, are paid acceptably without tips. Weird, right?
First of all, I suspect the origin of the custom, at least in the European-influenced part of the world, is insultingly class-ist. Here's what I think must have happened. Some servant is employed at some house or inn or coach house, or whatever at some pitiful wage that barely allows that person to exist, let alone have a family. Along comes a "gentleman" who is served by said servant. Being kindly, if not particularly enlightened, the served, in appreciation of the service or the company, offers the servant a "little extra" so that he (the servant) might have a drink or buy flowers for a girl or whatever and which payment will not be known to his employers (otherwise they would claim it for themselves). That servant will naturally do whatever he thinks might elicit the same response from others or that same returning "customer". The process catches on. The employers, seeing that the servants have another source of income, and (here's the really disgusting part) not wanting them to rise above their station, reduce that wage so that the total now (with tips) is no better than it was before (without them).
And that's where we are. I don't want to stiff a waiter or a cab driver or a bell hop or anyone. But they should be paid a proper wage by their employers, and I should be charged accordingly for the service.
2 comments:
Interesting insights as I have always wondered about this strange custom myself.
I've never understood how an employer can get away with paying an employee less than minimum wage because of the potential tips to be earned. What if by chance an employee received NO tips during their shift? Why should the public (customers) be paying the employees on their behalf? Should we also contribute to their health insurance? Would an employer be fined if customers stopped tipping altogether? It seems criminal in my opinion and one of the worst customs being practiced today. I don't mind tipping - I'm bothered by the fact that a greedy employer can get away with under-paying hard working people because others will pick up their slack. Maybe the employer should be forced into a tip rewards program themselves and see how well they are able to support their family.
I've enjoyed reading your insights regarding other topics as well on our blog.
Randy (fellow CSC and non-tipped employee)
I suppose it's survived because it allows me as a customer to decide whether I received the service at an appropriate level and immediately act upon that.
I'm not very picky, but there are waiters that just don't stand up to the standard and therefore not tipping them sends a clear message - 'you can do better than that'.
From the waiter's POV it then becomes a fine balance between their efforts and renumeration, but those who smile and are kind usually get enough tips.
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