International fans visiting the US for the World Cup have become frustrated by the culture of having to tip servers, telling the BBC that tipping fatigue has set in.

Many international fans visiting the US for the World Cup have become frustrated by the culture of tipping servers, telling the BBC that tipping fatigue has set in.

England supporter Geoff Pryor said he understood tipping for good service, but he found it “weird” when buying a bottle of water and “they try to get a tip for doing nothing”.

In the US, staff at some restaurants and bars are paid just over $2 (£1.50) an hour, and they expect customers to tip about 20% of the total cost of the bill so they can earn a living.

Frustrations have also been shared by hospitality staff, with one bar owner telling the BBC that many World Cup tourists have been bad tippers.

  • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
    177·
    1 day ago

    In the US servers cannot make anywhere near a living wage without it. It’s a catch 22 and either legislation or businesses adopting policies is the only way to break it. One off opt outs are just futile protests at the expense of workers.

    • Argon@tardigram.com
      3·
      24 hours ago

      Maybe business owners can pay full wages, advertise full prices, and pay full taxes, but you and I know that’s not going to happen in USA.

      • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
        3·
        23 hours ago

        Agree it’s really unlikely. We are dug in very deep with this. As these businesses start to get more aggressive with hidden fees and tip inflation I do think more people are getting fed up with it though. There may be some opportunity for political attention and legislative change. But yeah, it’s pretty damn silly to be optimistic about much of anything in a shit hole country like the US.

    • krashmo@lemmy.world
      117·
      1 day ago

      We’re all making less than we should. Why is it my job to fix that for the dude that brought me a cheeseburger but not for the dude that fixed the curb in front of my house? One of those was way more useful to me than the other.

      • AugustWest@lemmy.world
        85·
        1 day ago

        Why should it be? It shouldn’t.

        Why is it? Because the dude who brought you a cheeseburger makes a fraction of the hourly wage of the curb dude, and you chose to participate in the broken system by going to that restaurant.