Man explains why tipping servers has become a 'slippery slope' in the US, sparks debate

Tipping at a very fundamental level is a way to show appreciation for good service. It is widely practiced in the US where there is a set culturally accepted rate that you tip your servers everytime you eat out. However, others seem to think that tipping has permeated its way into even the most small services that do not take much effort. Christian—who goes by @cbwritescopy on TikTok—recently shared his own insights on tipping in the US and sparked a healthy debate in the comments section.

Christian begins the video by stating that tipping in the United States has become a "complete scam." He shares how he is in Ireland and had a delicious three-course meal. When it came to paying the bill, the waitress serving him did not ask him about leaving a tip. He mentions how he tapped his card on the machine and they still didn't ask for a tip on it.

He says, "She just said thank you. Have a good night." Christian then compares the stark reality in America where asking for a cup of water at a Starbucks necessitates a tip. He clarifies, "There's nothing wrong with tipping for good service at a restaurant. I was happy to tip that lady 25%." He states that he tipped her even without her asking for it.

According to him, the United States is on a "slippery slope" where every service requires some form of tipping. He says, "And I'm not saying it's the worker's fault. The restaurants don't pay them enough." Christian concludes by asking people who were working in the service industry and relied on tips to follow him for advice on starting their own business. Having a business would ensure that they no longer needed to rely on tips for a livelihood.

His views found mixed reactions from people on the site. Some individuals agreed with him. @bebish69 said, "They ask for tips at self-service ice cream." @personal_spaceinvader clarified, "It's the credit card companies that implemented this. They get a small cut of every red cent that's run through those machines." Others had more neutral reactions. @madamelizo12 said, "Here they pay enough. 10% is a very good tip or no tip at all is also okay since they get enough pay."

There are some places in the US that are changingA restaurant in San Francisco has provided a viable solution to the problem of tipping by declaring itself a 'tip-free' place. Zazie is a well-known spot for people looking to have a nice brunch that pays all of their staff living wage with benefits, along with a share of the profits. They did this by increasing the cost of items on the menu by 25%. Surprisingly customers have responded positively to this decision.

Jennifer Piallat the owner of the restaurant shared, "So far we haven't had any complaints. In fact, one customer said she expected sticker shock, but that the menu still looks reasonable." Piallat explained that the objective was to promote equality between front-of-house and back-of-house staff through a profit-sharing approach. Commenting on the business side of things, the owner shares "Eventually I'll inch prices up, but if someone's going to hurt for a year or two, I want it to be me and not the employees." Additionally, a new system has been introduced where every employee will receive a salary increase, with servers receiving a three to seven percent raise, and those in the back of the house receiving a substantial 35% boost.