We have probably seen Europeans talking about this issue frequently in a social media video. This situation, which seems very strange to European countries, is actually a bread and butter for Americans. Well this habit; Is it designed to make employers pay their employees less? Or is this culture a sign of generosity?
In this topic we are discussing today, we will see more clearly how capitalism has hit America. The saying “squeezing out the juice from the stone” is valid for this situation in America. Employers engage in all kinds of cunning tricks, and on top of that, they almost force their employees to extract tips from customers.
First, it is useful to look at how this culture started: The American government has been supporting the employer in this regard from the very beginning.
In 1960, the American Congress authorized employers to pay workers below the minimum wage within the scope of receiving tips. Many employers, taking advantage of this, have placed tip boxes in their shops to collect tips from their workers. So, at the end of the day, as a worker, you can make a profit or a loss.
But of course, this was not the case before; In fact, tipping was considered impolite in America before the 20th century. However, on the contrary, at that time the tradition of tipping was frequently used in European countries, just like today’s America. So, what changed after these dates and things turned around?
Americans who visited Europe before the 20th century often complained about the tipping culture, but this situation completely changed with the transition from the “American Plan” to the “European Plan” in accommodation establishments. To briefly explain the plans; While the Americas Plan meant that food and drinks were included in the price of hotel accommodation, the European Plan was the opposite.
But let us remind you that the American accommodation industry was not very big at that time. Employers; They found it insulting if customers tipped, as if they were paying bribes to provide more food.
However, when this sector started to grow in America, the burden on the workers began to increase and the wages they received began to become insufficient. In short, a middle class emerged in America.
By the mid-1920s, tipping had become the norm in America.
However, this time, European countries switched to the opposite model, that is, they were moving away from the tipping model. Instead, they included tip fees in meal prices, thus paying employees a net minimum wage. This situation, which has become a part of their culture day by day in America, had already become legal in the 1960s.
Nowadays, if you go to America, you can clearly see that most waiters or workers expect a tip from you. Naturally, a certain group of people – especially tourists – are very disturbed by this situation, because they argue that they are not to blame for the employer’s low salary.
Today, Americans are feeling the pressure of not tipping anymore. How?
For example, you went to a grocery store, bought your own products using the smart cash register, which is now available in many supermarket chains, and wanted to pay. During payment, the “tip screen” automatically appears in front of you.
The screen that appears in front of you, sometimes with emotional exploitation and sometimes with big options as if you have to give, is a controversial issue that Americans have been talking about lately.
Even though people are uncomfortable with this situation, they continue to tip due to social pressure. In fact, this situation has progressed to such absurd levels that you may even have to tip when you buy a loaf of bread from the oven. You are required to leave at least 20% in the food industry and at least 1 dollar per drink in bars.
Let’s hear this from an American, because he argues the exact opposite:
Stating that people have been arguing about tips lately, the woman is actually trying to explain exactly this: Even though people say they do not have to tip, they actually have to tip because they receive service. There is a difference between paying for what you eat and paying for the service. You pay for what you eat and tip for the service.
In fact, this issue is quite controversial because the person who has to pay here is not exactly the customer, but the employer. However, as we mentioned before, America’s capitalist system unfortunately pushes everyone to be like this. At the end of the day, it is still unclear how ethical this issue is.
So what do you think about this issue? Do you think the employees are right or the customers? Choose your side, write in the comments!
Our other content about America’s cultural differences:
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