The problem is that, regardless of the economics, tipping has gotten out of hand (and that’s coming from a big tipper). Eighteen per cent automatic charges to restaurant bills are routine. We’re presented with “opportunities” to tip for just about anything, even when there’s little actual work involved. Other stuff is downright galling: on a recent cab trip, the driver got lost by entering the wrong street name in his GPS despite our stressing the name repeatedly at the beginning of the ride; I was still given the choice of tipping 25%, 28% or 30% (I’m not exaggerating). People are fed up, and you can’t blame anyone who looks askance at a policy of making income from tipping tax free.
The problem is that, regardless of the economics, tipping has gotten out of hand (and that’s coming from a big tipper). Eighteen per cent automatic charges to restaurant bills are routine. We’re presented with “opportunities” to tip for just about anything, even when there’s little actual work involved. Other stuff is downright galling: on a recent cab trip, the driver got lost by entering the wrong street name in his GPS despite our stressing the name repeatedly at the beginning of the ride; I was still given the choice of tipping 25%, 28% or 30% (I’m not exaggerating). People are fed up, and you can’t blame anyone who looks askance at a policy of making income from tipping tax free.