Anna Rinaggio, Campus Carrier opinions editor
Service workers are the backbone of our society. Waiters and waitresses, housekeepers and hairdressers are just a few of the many people who don’t get paid nearly enough for how much we utilize and rely on them. Tipping these workers is so incredibly important, yet there are plenty of people who think that tipping is optional and opt out of giving one even when they receive great service. This needs to stop.
The bigger issue here, of course, lies in the fact that the pervasive tipping culture in the United States allows service workers to oftentimes be paid below minimum wage, forcing them to rely on tips from customers to make a living. As unfortunate as that is, however, it is the culture we are currently stuck in, so it’s one we have to live with. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that you are a decent human being and tip your service workers.
Tipping may seem optional — something that should be given for exceptional service — but in reality, tips have become part of the cost of services. Waiters and waitresses, for example, are only required to be paid $2.13 an hour by their employers as long as that amount combined with the tips they receive reaches the federal minimum wage: $7.25. That means that the amount a server makes in one night is almost entirely dependent on tips. Even on a busy night where they should in theory make more money because they are serving more people, they might only make minimum wage or just barely above that if only a few tables decide to tip.
One way to think about tips is to view them as part of the cost of utilizing these services rather than as an extra fee. If you know you are going to spend $30 on a haircut, go ahead and factor in the tip before you go so that you are prepared to pay it. Thinking of that haircut as $35 rather than $30 makes it a bit easier to spend that money, and your hairdresser will greatly appreciate it.
Even if you are not receiving what you would consider exceptional service, you should still factor in a tip to pay to service workers. A 20% tip is not a mere suggestion; if your server is taking your order and checking in a few times to ask if you need anything, they are deserving of a 20% tip. The fact that they are putting on a nice face no matter what kind of day they have had and getting you what you asked for with no complaint means that you should be decent in return and leave an extra $3 for your $12 meal.
Furthermore, if someone is going above and beyond to accommodate you or if you feel as though their service is particularly great, consider giving them a bigger tip. If you go to Olive Garden on an all liquid diet and ask your waitress to strain your soup to keep the chunks out, they deserve a hefty tip. Not only are they doing more than their job requires just to accommodate you, but they’re probably doing it with a smile on their face, too. Leaving a bigger tip shows that you are grateful for their service and want to reward them for doing more to help you out.
It is admittedly ridiculous that we have to tip service workers because their employers don’t pay them enough for the work that they do, but given the circumstances, it’s a necessity. It is your responsibility as a consumer to be a decent human being to these workers and leave a tip when you utilize their services. Don’t be the person your hairdresser complains about when they get home to their family because you didn’t leave a tip — for Pete’s sake, be kind and leave them a little extra something as a thank you.