No tip-shaming here! As an expat, the who, what, and when of tipping can get a little…overwhelming. More recently though, I’ve found that tipping has become a culture shock even for people who have lived in the U.S. for their entire lives. As someone who has been immersed in the customer service industry for decades, I feel that it’s time we start the conversation and begin to educate ourselves on tipping etiquette across industries. On this episode of Let’s Talk Service, join me for an honest conversation about how to navigate tipping culture in the U.S.

This episode, we discuss:

[0:34] Why tipping is such a culture shock

Although tipping has been historically ingrained into American society, the reality is nobody really tells you about tipping expectations when you arrive in the U.S. As an American expat myself, I believe travel agents or relocation companies could implement ways of preparing travellers for tipping culture, perhaps even talking about the history of tipping and why it’s important. When you are in the U.S. for business, tipping percentages and kitchen fees can feel like an entirely different language. And the etiquette for tipping has changed over the years, as I’ve overheard from many conversations around restaurants and coffee shops, so much so that people who have lived in the U.S. their entire lives aren’t entirely sure who, what, and when to tip either. It seems to be an expectation that no one likes to discuss, which is largely why tipping culture shock is something most travellers struggle with.

[3:48] Who we should and shouldn’t be tipping

I was mortified a few months ago to find out that I should be tipping housekeepers in a hotel. I have never in my life tipped a housekeeper, throughout any of the countries I have stayed in. I’ve also always tipped my hair stylist, who is also the owner of his business. Now people are saying I shouldn’t tip my hair stylist, no matter how fabulous he is, because he owns his business. It can be very confusing to decipher who we should and shouldn’t be tipping, which is why having the conversation is so important.

[6:22] When to tip and why it matters

Should you tip before or after a service? While history dictates that we should tip at the beginning of a job to ensure we get the performance we’re looking for, others believe you should tip at the end of the job when you can truly judge the outcome and give a ‘fair’ tip.

[7:48] Our solution to the tipping chaos

How do you figure out who, what, and when to tip without leaving people in the service industry feeling ‘stiffed’ (the newest addition to my American vocabulary)? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have some sort of reference guide where you could look at who gets the tip, tip variables, how tipping actually works, etc? We will be working on creating a guide to tipping, collecting information and experiences from research and our podcast guests, and we will be making that service guide available to you as soon as it’s ready!

Thank you for listening! I’d love you to join me for a new episode every other Tuesday and hear from our guests and their perspective on fabulous customer service. If you’re interested in more information, check out Bond and Des Voeux on Instagram!