Revealing the Dark Side of Tipping: How American Businesses Exploit Customers and Underpay Employees

The service industry in the United States has long relied on customer tips as a way to supplement the income of employees. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend where businesses and restaurants are not only relying on tips but actively encouraging customers to give more, in lieu of increasing wages for their hardworking employees. This practice has sparked a debate about the fairness and responsibility of businesses towards their workers.

Proponents of this strategy argue that asking for more tips from customers allows them to retain workers while still keeping the prices of their services and products competitive in today's cutthroat market. By shifting the burden of higher income onto customers, businesses can avoid incurring extra costs and subsequently raising the prices of their goods and services.

According to a Homebase survey, the number of small businesses asking customers to tip at the time of checkout increased by 6.2% compared to 2019. Similarly, Paycheck's research in the retail, hospitality, and services sectors reveals that more employees are reporting receiving higher tips than ever before since the company began collecting data in 2010. Additionally, a report by Gusto shows that as of June 2023, service workers (excluding restaurants) and those in the tourism industry earn an average of $1.35 per hour in tips, marking a 30% increase from $1.04 per hour in 2019. On the other hand, as of May 2023, the average worker in the service industry, including restaurants, earns $16.64 per hour with an additional $4.23 in tips.

While some customers may willingly tip their service providers as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation, others feel that this practice takes advantage of their goodwill and shifts the responsibility of fair compensation onto them, rather than the businesses themselves. The expectation of tipping has become so ingrained in the service industry that it has become an assumed, though often unspoken, obligation for customers. This situation creates a disconnect between the true responsibility of businesses to adequately compensate their employees and the expectation that customers should fill this gap.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the reliance on customer tips in the service industry, as many customers felt compelled to show support and appreciation for the risks taken by service workers who continued to serve despite the challenging circumstances. Consequently, employees and businesses alike have come to expect larger tip amounts, especially during these difficult times. Moreover, with many businesses concerned about a potential economic recession, raising wages for employees may not be a financially viable option. Instead, they choose to shift the burden to customers, making it a more flexible approach to managing labor and service costs.

The absence of regulations limiting the amount of tips further contributes to the service industry's dependence on customer contributions. As employees continue to push for larger tips, customers may feel inclined to adjust their tipping habits. While some customers are willing to tip beyond customary amounts, others may resist, leading to potential discrepancies in employee incomes. In turn, this poses a significant risk for employees, who may ultimately suffer from reduced earnings or even face the threat of job loss.

Another crucial factor influencing the increased reliance on tips is the ongoing labor shortage in the service industry. While numerous other sectors faced massive layoffs during the pandemic, many service workers were forced to seek alternative employment due to job loss, making them less inclined to return to the industry. Data from the American Chamber of Commerce (USCC) reveals that the quit rate among employees in the hotel and restaurant service industry reached its highest level since July 2021, standing at 4.9%. The retail industry also experienced a high quit rate, reaching 3.3%. Similarly, the report from the General Department of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates an overall quit rate of 2.6% across industries in May 2023.

Business owners perceive the practice of relying on tips as a smart way to boost workers' incomes without having to raise their wages. However, the success of this approach is contingent upon the willingness of customers to comply. A survey conducted by Bankrate found that American consumers are no longer tipping as generously as they did during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, a significant 41% of respondents indicated that businesses should take responsibility for their employees' well-being by increasing wages rather than relying on tips. Nevertheless, a third of respondents admitted to continuing to tip, albeit reluctantly.

The American service industry's increasing dependence on customer tips stems from various factors. The desire to remain competitive in a challenging market, the scarcity of labor, and the absence of regulations governing tip amounts all contribute to this phenomenon. While some argue that relying on tips is a viable strategy to provide workers with additional income, others believe that businesses should take greater responsibility for adequately compensating their employees. The ongoing debate regarding tipping practices underscores the complexities and nuances of fair compensation within the service industry.