Would it be better to have tipping replaced by fixed service charges?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
India
February 8, 2025 8:28am CST
The other day while we were having an office dinner, overheard a hotel staff speaking to another about the unequal tip distribution and that the kitchen workers are demotivated to do better as they never receive tips. I have always felt tipping culture led to inconsistent wages. Plus, the tips could reinforce biases based on gender or appearance rather than the actual service. We as customers would also benefits if we know the exact cost of the meal upfront without the stress of calculating the tips. Customers often feel obligated to tip although the service or food was poor.
Tipping may bring in better service in some places if not all. However a fixed charge system could benefit all and could provide motivation for staff who were not earlier covered.
Do you think tipping being replaced by fixed service charges would work better?
11 people like this
10 responses
@FourWalls (72320)
• United States
8 Feb
I don’t think so. A tip is an incentive to do a good. However, I can also see the point about flat fees being beneficial. Still, I love to reward my favorite servers every year at Christmas with a “bonus” tip, and to me they’ve earned it through the year.
4 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
We can depedn tip people who went beyond their role to help us. However , they should be guaranteed a minimum wage and not depend on tips . They should not be exploiuted by establishments
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (143277)
• United States
8 Feb
Tipping for anyone should be done away with and the establishment should pay them a living wage. Some places here try to put a tip on the receipt in their establishments. If I HAVE to tip, then giving a tip should be up to me according to the service I receive. When I get bad service, I don't tip and report the person to the manager of the restaurant.
People are carrying tipping too far since the pandemic was supposedly over and want a tip now for just running a cash register. That's stupid! I won't tip someone who is just doing their job!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (143277)
• United States
9 Feb
@RevivedWarrior There are even tip jars in gas stations and convenience stores where the employee ONLY runs a cash register and they expect a tip for that? I won't tip them. They're only doing their job and make at least minimum wage.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
10 Feb
@DaddyEvil In those scenarios , no tip at all. I always thought those jars are for charity and not specifically for tipping. Thats a new thing I learned today! Thank you!
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
Thats right. If someone did something way out of their expected role , yes we can tip. We should not be forced to tip. Again , the establishments MUST ensure their staff get the minimum wages and not depend on tips.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (186476)
• United States
8 Feb
Some restaurants do add a 20 percent tip as a fee for service. I don't like that though. I think tipping should be based on merit, and 20 percent is a lot for mediocre service.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
Tipping should be based on merit and not be forced onto us. Thats the problem with most establishments these days!
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (7245)
• Philippines
12 Feb
From what I have heard tipping has different percentage on each department. I think that the saddest part.
I think a fixed service charge might be a good one.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
12 Feb
Perhaps in countries like US, tipping may help to get better service but in others , fixed service charge will ensure a better livelihood for the people and will have better service towards customers.
@JudyEv (348065)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Feb
@RevivedWarrior We do have a minimum wage system in Australia so people don't rely on tips to earn a basic wage.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
I guess then the service charges would already been factored into things. In some ways , especially for the staff , thats helpful so that the minimum wages are being paid.
1 person likes this
@somewitch (2395)
•
9 Feb
Coming from a country where tipping isn’t compulsory but fixed service charges are, I think so. Customers can complain to the manager or leave negative reviews when service is bad or leave a tip when service is extraordinary. The only benefit of mandatory tipping is that you get to practice some basic math from time to time. 
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
With fixed service charges -the staff are guaranteed to have a better salary and are not taken advantage of. Tipping could be bonus .
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (96485)
• United States
8 Feb
Some places around here do automatically add a 15% to 20% charge to make sure a proper tip is given. Or some place, if your party is more than say, twelve people, they’ll add a 20% charge for a decent tip.
I wish everyone was just paid a fair amount, and we could just abolish tipping. Since we can’t though, I do not want a fixed rate of tipping. I never cheat anyone out of a tip, but if they were awful at their job I will pay them no more than the basic tip. If they were good, I’ll go out of my way to reward them with extra.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
Thats wonderful way to do things. Yes, if service charges was factored into wages and all the staff received good wages , then we need to tip at all. However , helping people who do their work well and tipping them should be fine.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (142124)
• India
8 Feb
All are paid and therefore there should be no service charge and no tipping.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
Well, there are occasions when certain services we tip or pay service charges out of courtesy . Ideally the tipping or service charges should be taken care by the business and not passed on the customer.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (92842)
• United States
8 Feb
Yes it would be good if people could just earn enough to survive instead of depending on tips.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
Most restaurants would use the tips as the reason to bring the minimum wages down which is unfair. However, if tips can motivate to give better service thats fine, but have the people atleast at minimum wages.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36238)
•
8 Feb
I think service occupations like waiters and waitresses should be tipped according to their performance. Having to pay someone a flat tip is demotivating. In the U.S. we have a consensus on what is recognized as standard tip for ok service, and a sliding scale upward for outstanding service. These guidelines allow us to justify a job well done or not.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3758)
• India
9 Feb
Well, if tipping can guarantee a better service and it is going to mtivate them , then yes tipping would be better option to pursue.
1 person likes this
