Today, I read several articles about tourists visiting other countries, including Europeans going to the US for the FIFA games. One topic that kept coming up was how shocked people were that restaurants in the US expect tips. In many cultures, tipping is truly optional — it’s extra you give only if the service was exceptional. But in North America, tipping is often treated as a requirement because servers are paid so little and rely on tips to survive.
As a result, many tourists are simply refusing to tip. In response, some businesses have started adding mandatory service fees or tip amounts directly onto the bill, leaving customers with no choice. This raises an interesting question: should tipping culture be done away with in places like North America? And when you’re visiting another country, should you follow their local tipping customs — even if you’re not required to — just to be a respectful guest?
In some places, tipping can actually be seen as an insult. In Japan, for example, leaving a tip might suggest you think the business doesn’t pay its staff enough or that their prices are too cheap. In my opinion, tipping in North America has gotten completely out of hand. When even self-checkout machines prompt you for a tip, it starts to feel like it’s taking advantage of people.
Here in Vancouver, Canada, servers already earn minimum wage, so the argument that they desperately need tips to survive doesn’t hold up. A server at a sit-down restaurant isn’t necessarily more deserving of a tip than a fast food worker grinding through a busy rush. I believe restaurants should simply pay their staff a proper living wage and build that into their business costs, either through higher menu prices or tighter margins. Some argue that raising prices would drive customers away, but I think it’s more honest to show the real cost of the meal upfront rather than hiding it behind expected tips.