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Guidelines for Tipping

© Donna Dunn

Tipping can be a touchy subject. When I told some of my real-world friends that I was thinking of writing a thrifty column about tipping and gratuities, many said they felt confused and unsure about when and how much to tip. Others had very definite opinions.

Some of the issues we discussed were:

• Why should I tip in the first place?

• Who do I tip?

• How much to tip?

• Should I leave a tip even if I wasn't happy with the service?

All valid questions. And since tipping means parting with some of your hard-earned money, it's a good idea to do a little research and set up some guidelines you can live with.

According to some sources, the word tips is an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. While that may or may not be true, tipping is a tangible way of showing your appreciation and has become a part of our culture.

And it is a fact that some trades depend on tips. Some restaurant workers, for example, are paid less than the minimum wage and depend on tips to supplement their hourly income. If the combined total of hourly salary plus tips doesn't at least equal the minimum wage, the employer has to pay the difference, according to the United States Department of Labor. So while your server may be assured of earning the minimum wage without your help, it seems likely that his or her job may be at some risk if they don't receive enough tips.

The amount of the tip depends on a number of things, and can be a fixed amount or calculated as a percentage. In Canada and the United States, restaurant tips average 15% of the cost of the meal. Porters, on the other hand, may expect $1 a bag as their gratuity.

Porters and restaurant staff are just a couple of the occupations where accepting tips and gratuities has become common practice. Tips on Tipping has a chart that lists some of the occupations you may be expected to tip, along with suggested amounts. Just don't kid yourself that a chart will solve your tipping dilemma. To add to the confusion, you will find that there is disagreement even within a specific occupation. Not all porters, for example, may expect a tip.

As well, tipping customs can vary from country to country. According to a World Trade Magazine report on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website, the U.S. leads a list of 12 countries with highest percentage of 15 - 20%, followed by France at 12 - 15%, and Japan at 10 - 20%. Most of the other countries in the list tip 10 - 15%.

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