Tipping is iniquitous, discriminatory, and likely promotes a culture of bribery. But, it continues to grow and spread to new sectors. Based on what you might have read in my earlier post, what are your views?
The practice of tipping is now ubiquitous. Waiters, hairdressers, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, taxi drivers, etc., are not stand-alone service providers. They are not, at least mostly, self employed. They work for companies which run restaurants, salons and those which provide services such as cleaning, plumbing, maintenance and so on. Those whom we tip are most often ad hoc workers, not on the regular rolls of these firms. With outsourcing as a consensus mechanism for cost-cutting, mega corporations and the public sector have resorted to not having employees on their rolls. My suspicion is that with most jobs being out-sourced to penny-pinching firms, the wages paid to these ad hoc workers factor in the tips a worker is likely to collect. The issue is -- is the operative who is providing you the service being paid adequately if you discount the tips? One may never know! So, they may certainly not count as bribes, in most cases. Just maybe they are adding up to be just wages.
When on a short programme to UC Berkeley, we were advised by the coordinator to tip the helpers and drivers, liberally. Also, one noticed students, including Indians, waiting tables to supplement their living costs... and in one case where my host didn't care to tip adequately, I watched a young girl's face change from a cheerful smile to being utterly downcast. Tipping is now a matter of courtesy. So much so, when in a spot, I sometimes confess to not having change, to the worker and give him a vague assurance of making up the next time. They understand and smile!
I have developed a habit of tipping at least ten percent (even if the service isn't great) and taking it upwards if the service meets my expectations. And yes, the smaller the bill -- the bigger the tip, in percentage terms.
Hey, I am a bit confused - I already gave my views somewhere. Hope I am not repeating myself.
Bribing and tipping are completely distinct and tipping cannot promote bribery.
A bribe is demanded by the receiver - a tip is entirely at the option of the giver.
A bribe is given or negotiated before doing some task - a tip is given after completion of a task done well.
Tips are usually given to lower income workers - waiters, housekeepers, drivers etc. It incentivizes them to do their work efficiently and pleasantly
Increasing prices / levying service charges is not a good alternative to tipping. In small businesses in India - you can never be sure if it reached the intended worker. Also, the reward will be the same for all workers - whereas I would like to tip only the good ones. Sometimes I have come across very rude drivers - I certainly dont want to tip them
In conclusion - I am all for tipping - and bringing some happiness into the worker's life - as a reward for making my life comfortable and pleasant
The practice of tipping is now ubiquitous. Waiters, hairdressers, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, taxi drivers, etc., are not stand-alone service providers. They are not, at least mostly, self employed. They work for companies which run restaurants, salons and those which provide services such as cleaning, plumbing, maintenance and so on. Those whom we tip are most often ad hoc workers, not on the regular rolls of these firms. With outsourcing as a consensus mechanism for cost-cutting, mega corporations and the public sector have resorted to not having employees on their rolls. My suspicion is that with most jobs being out-sourced to penny-pinching firms, the wages paid to these ad hoc workers factor in the tips a worker is likely to collect. The issue is -- is the operative who is providing you the service being paid adequately if you discount the tips? One may never know! So, they may certainly not count as bribes, in most cases. Just maybe they are adding up to be just wages.
When on a short programme to UC Berkeley, we were advised by the coordinator to tip the helpers and drivers, liberally. Also, one noticed students, including Indians, waiting tables to supplement their living costs... and in one case where my host didn't care to tip adequately, I watched a young girl's face change from a cheerful smile to being utterly downcast. Tipping is now a matter of courtesy. So much so, when in a spot, I sometimes confess to not having change, to the worker and give him a vague assurance of making up the next time. They understand and smile!
I have developed a habit of tipping at least ten percent (even if the service isn't great) and taking it upwards if the service meets my expectations. And yes, the smaller the bill -- the bigger the tip, in percentage terms.
Hey, I am a bit confused - I already gave my views somewhere. Hope I am not repeating myself.
Bribing and tipping are completely distinct and tipping cannot promote bribery.
A bribe is demanded by the receiver - a tip is entirely at the option of the giver.
A bribe is given or negotiated before doing some task - a tip is given after completion of a task done well.
Tips are usually given to lower income workers - waiters, housekeepers, drivers etc. It incentivizes them to do their work efficiently and pleasantly
Increasing prices / levying service charges is not a good alternative to tipping. In small businesses in India - you can never be sure if it reached the intended worker. Also, the reward will be the same for all workers - whereas I would like to tip only the good ones. Sometimes I have come across very rude drivers - I certainly dont want to tip them
In conclusion - I am all for tipping - and bringing some happiness into the worker's life - as a reward for making my life comfortable and pleasant