Summary

Tipping in U.S. restaurants has dropped to 19.3%, the lowest in six years, driven by frustration over rising menu prices and increased prompts for tips in non-traditional settings.

Only 38% of consumers tipped 20% or more in 2024, down from 56% in 2021, reflecting tighter budgets.

Diners are cutting back on outings, spending less, and tipping less. Some restaurants are adding service fees, further reducing tips.

Worker advocacy groups are pushing to eliminate the tipped-wage system, while the restaurant industry warns these shifts hurt business and employees.

Key cities like D.C. and Chicago are phasing in higher minimum wages for tipped workers.

Non-paywall link

  • @Glytch
    -2•14 days ago

    Boycotting would be not eating at restaurants that don’t pay a living wage. Not tipping is just punishing someone for providing you a service because you think it will somehow influence their employer.

      • @Glytch
        1•14 days ago

        Why are those mutually exclusive? You shouldn’t punish people for things that aren’t their fault and refusing to tip will not have the intended effect.

        Also I’m not saying you don’t have the right to not tip. I’m saying that people who don’t tip are wrong not to

          • @Glytch
            1•14 days ago

            For my part my “boycotting” tipping mostly involves refusing to tip anything that isn’t service related, and stopping going out to restaurants almost entirely.

            See, that actually does sound like the right way to do it, because you aren’t refusing to pay for a service being provided to you. Instead you’re refusing to use the service altogether, which more directly affects the business owner rather than worker. It still impacts the worker (due to lower overall business) but in a much less damaging way than simply not tipping.

            • @[email protected]
              5•14 days ago

              if you don’t tip, their employer has to by law. If not that’s wage theft and it is not the concern of the clients to enforce your rights for you.

              • @Glytch
                -2•14 days ago

                Blame the exploited for their exploitation and don’t acknowledge your part in it. You are a good American.

                • @[email protected]
                  2•14 days ago

                  I am not american, I live in one of those countries where shit that can’t possibly ever work, according to americans, regularly does.

                  No, the client has no part in the exploitation.

                  • @Glytch
                    -2•14 days ago

                    You certainly have the attitude of an American, and the economic understanding of one too.

                  • @Glytch
                    2•14 days ago

                    I feel I have a right as it’s the culture I was born into, but still acknowledge it’s flaws (as do you, to be fair).

                    True some of us do try. Others glory in their lack of effort. Many of those are in this thread.

              • @Glytch
                2•14 days ago

                Any words you may have put in my mouth ( I don’t think you did but I’m on a 12 hour shift while we’re having this discussion so I don’t have the energy to check what I’ve already said) are ones I agree with. I do think we agree on the most important parts of what we’ve talked about (as you’ve laid out here).

                  • @Glytch
                    1•14 days ago

                    Have a good night. I may not return to this discussion tomorrow, but it’s been nice talking to you.