DEAR HARRIETTE: The tipping culture in the United States is puzzling to me as someone from Japan, where tipping is not customary. In Japan, tips can imply that the employer does not provide adequate wages.
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After moving to New Orleans, I discovered that tipping was expected for various services, including food, transportation and even coffee. While this practice appears excessive, I still adhere to it. I seek insights into this custom and its significance in your culture. -- Is Tipping Necessary?
DEAR IS TIPPING NECESSARY?: What a great question. It got me researching the origins of tipping in America. The results are somewhat disturbing. You are right that the expectation of tips, especially in the restaurant industry, is so great that the wage for tipped employees in some states is significantly lower than minimum wage -- as little as $2.13 per hour. The belief has been that tips will balance out what a restaurant server will make, thereby bringing it back to the state’s general minimum wage. That means when servers or others in the restaurant industry do not receive tips, their overall wages for that day may be extremely low.
For the customer in America today, the most common tip amount is 15% to 20%. To give less than that is considered rude or a sign that you felt the service was not acceptable. This goes for everything from food service to car services, hairdressers and other service providers.