‘Voluntary’ tipping

Dear Editor:

RE: Why do we tip some workers and not others? (July 16).

I read Pete Mohr’s opinion with great interest. He raises a question many Canadians have been asking.

I agree that the responsibility for paying fair wages belongs with employers, not customers. Tipping was once a way to recognize exceptional service, but today it often feels like an expectation rather than a choice. Payment terminals now suggest tips of 18, 20 or even 25 per cent, even for services where little or no personal interaction takes place.

What I find most frustrating is the inconsistency. We tip restaurant servers, hairstylists, bartenders and tour guides, yet we rarely tip nurses, personal support workers, grocery clerks, child care workers, and many others who provide outstanding service every day. Their dedication is no less valuable.

I will always reward exceptional service, but I don’t believe customers should be responsible for making up for inadequate wages. Businesses should build the true cost of labour into their prices, allowing customers to know exactly what they are paying.

Perhaps it’s time to return tipping to what it was meant to be: a sincere thank-you for service that goes above and beyond, not an obligation. Fair wages should be the responsibility of employers, while tips should remain a voluntary expression of appreciation – not a substitute for proper compensation.

Margherita Tabone,
Rockwood