The US is a ‘Tip-Happy’ Country

According to Professor of Consumer Behavior and Marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, “the U.S. is the most tip-happy country” (CNBC). He bases this assertion on the fact that Americans provide tips for a larger portion of service providers and tip a larger amount. 

The interesting contrast between America’s attitude towards tipping versus other countries’ is that tipping in the U.S. is so standardized that bosses and supervisors in experiential services base their employees salary on the expectation that customers will provide additional compensation through tipping. Tips comprise a larger portion of a workers’ pay in U.S. – especially in entertainment, food service, leisure and hospitality industries – than in other parts of the world. In fact under Federal Law, American employees can be paid under minimum wage if there are classified as “tipped employees.” There has, however, been a groundswell against these tipping practices in some states. 

Around the world, here are typical tipping practices at restaurants according to data from TripAdvisor.com: 

• London: “10% for pleasant or good service” and up to “15% for exceptional thoughtfulness” 

• Paris: tip is usually included and the menu states “Service Compris” so there is no need to leave additional euros for the server

• Florence, Italy: no expectation of a tip; a tip of 10% would be the highest amount

• Mykonos, Greece: only appropriate to tip up to 5%

• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: tip 15-20% unless a service charge is already included on the bill