Woman asks how much she should tip her sanitation workers, sparking debate

Tipping is a voluntary thing in most places. If you like a service, you tip the person rendering it. Despite it feeling like such a straightforward thing to do, tipping is done differently in different cultures. As opposed to other places, people in the United States are known to tip for everything. That is why a woman named Kaidi Dey (@kaididey)  made a video on TikTok to ask if she should be tipping her sanitation workers and if so, how much?

She began her video by saying that her garbage collectors left them a really nice card one morning that read "Happy Holidays," along with best wishes from the sanitation crew. The two people who are a part of this team also signed their names. Talking about how she was taught and told to tip, she said, "I was told by a very, very smart person, my father-in-law, that they expect a tip." She then explains how this concept is too American for her to comprehend. She comments that in America, people tip for everything and so does she. For instance, she tips her hair stylist or her masseuse every now and then when she gets things done. However, she finds it unusual that one needs to tip sanitation workers.

Since it is the holidays, she immediately asked the real question: "What's the going rate?" She meant the normal price that people are paying for themselves. Talking about the workers, she says, "So, there are two guys, apparently. I mean, I never see them. They're out here at like 5:30-5:45." However, she accepts that she does see them occasionally, but they can't see her. She comes back to her main question and asks the viewers again: How much should she tip the workers? Or if she should actually tip them at all? While she does realise that it is almost expected at this point, she urges the viewers to still provide her with any feedback they can.

According to the Pew Research Center, "A broad majority of Americans say they’re being asked to tip service workers more frequently than in the past." In fact, about 72% of adults say that tipping is expected in more places now than it was five years ago. However, despite how common tipping is becoming, this research shows that only one-third of the crowd actually knows how much is to be tipped for what services. The comments section has all kinds of opinions. Some supported tipping, some were against it, some didn't care and a lot empathized with her confusion of having no idea about how tipping in the US works.

@claudiasbaptista said, "The tipping culture in the US, it’s something, as a European, I’ll never understand." Another viewer, @lixi4900, said, "I feel these are the people I want to tip. They actually work hard and I’m grateful they do the job for my community." @tabberz85 said, "My hubby is a sanitation worker and will come home with cookies, food, beer, etc during the holidays as a tip. Doesn’t have to be $!"