Has tipping culture gone too far?

by Laura Onyeneho Houston Defender Americans are at a tipping point—with tipping, that is. There is an increased frustration with “tipflation,” the pressure to tip at places that traditionally didn’t expect it. The result? More people tipping out of guilt than out of appreciation for good service. The culprit? The digital tipping prompt. These screens ask for a 20 percent, 25 percent, or even 30 percent tip from coffee shops to takeout counters to convenience stores. Unlike a tip jar you can easily ignore at the cashier, these digital versions create social pressure and make it difficult to bypass, especially when your choice might be on display for others (including employees) to see. This shift in tipping culture highlights the reliance on a system that keeps wages low for service industry workers in the expectation that customers will make up the difference. While tipping can be a way to reward exceptional service, the current system needs to be more consistent and leaves workers at the mercy of individual customers. The Downside of Tip Dependence: Unpredictable Income: To meet ends, servers and other tipped workers often rely on inconsistent tip amounts. This makes budgeting and financial planning difficult. Gender and Race...