Reasons to Abolish Tipping

891 Words2 Pages

Let’s be honest, we all have faced the dilemma of what is the right thing to do when it comes down to tipping. Should I tip or not? If yes, how much? Did I tip less or more? Was I better off not tipping at all? This dilemma ends up creating an aloof relationship between a consumer and a service provider. Not only that, but tipping in itself is a wrong approach to show gratitude for the service provided because more often than not, “sense of guilt” comes into play since we are bounded by the social norms for tipping. Tipping should be abolished from the society because tipping doesn’t reflect the quality of service provided, it hinders social relationship, and furthermore it encourages tax evasion.
One of the primary reasons to abolish tipping is because tipping has weak correlation with the quality of service provided. According to Archibugi, “personal sympathy, charm, flirtation, and attitude” can play significant role in determining the amount of the tip disbursed (61). Recent research indicates that average tip of waitresses in their 30’s with “large breast, blond hair, and slender bodies” is higher compared to other waitresses who lack these traits (Lynn 743). Thus, this leads to fact that tipping can sometime be unjust. Attractive service provider may receive high tip compared to unattractive service provider even if the latter one had catered with better service quality.
It’s not just an issue of physical attractiveness, but this also concerns the social norms that have been passed down from generations. Since we grow up in a society where breaking social norms is usually consider to be immoral, we tend to side with those customs even if we have different opinions. Thus some of the time we end up t...

... middle of paper ...

...s Cited

Archibugi, Daniele. “Tips and Democracy.” Dissent Spring 2004: 59-64. Print.
Azar, Ofer H. “Incentives and Service Quality in the Restaurant Industry: The Tipping – Service Puzzle.” Applied Economics 41 (2009): 1917–1927. Print.
Butler, Suellen and James K. Skipper, Jr. “Working for Tips: An Examination of Trust and Reciprocity in a Secondary Relationship of the Restaurant Organization.” The Sociological Quarterly 22.1 (Winter, 1981): 15-27. Print.
Lynn, Michael. “Determinants and Consequences of Female Attractiveness and Sexiness: Realistic Tests with Restaurant Waitresses.” Archives of Sexual Behavior 38.5 (2009): 737-745. Print.
Mailer, Mark P. “The Morality of Tipping.” Public Affairs Quarterly 7.3 (1993): 231-239. Print.
Robertson, John, Tina Quinn, and Rebecca C Carr. “Unreported Tip Income: A Taxing Issue.” The CPA Journal 76.12 (2006): 30-39. Print.

Open Document