Courtesy Turned Expectation: A Deep Dive into Tipping Culture

Written by Emir Taha Macit

Tipping is an act of appreciation and generosity in which a customer makes an additional payment to a worker as gratitude for their labor. Dating back to ancient times, tipping has become a cultural norm in many countries, some more than others. In recent times, especially in the U.S., tipping has shifted into an expectation for many workers due to their reliance on tips to ensure a comfortable living in some areas, creating an issue that requires assessment and greater care from people and governments worldwide.

Let’s start by going through the history of tipping and how it came to be. The earliest instances of tipping can be found in ancient Rome and later in medieval Europe, where some wealthy people would pay extra for their servants whose service they found exceptional. Towards the Middle Ages, tipping became more common, and even easier to find instances of in the late Middle Ages. The term “tip” is believed to have been coined in 17th-century England, some believing it to be an abbreviation of the phrase “to insure promptitude,” which was a term occasionally found on bowls in coffeehouses.

This phrase shines a light on why tipping started in the first place. Receiving any kind of service is not always a good experience. The worker might not be motivated or interested in what they are doing, and may only be there to make a living. That is why tipping is a great way to encourage and be kind to workers for their services. Tipping can sometimes ensure exceptional service or show sympathy for workers’ struggles by helping them get by. 

This understanding of the culture has been in the U.S. since Americans first encountered tipping in their visits to Europe in the 19th century. Having taken a liking to the concept, they began practicing it back in their home country, helping spread its popularity. This sparked a heated debate in the country, with some defending it, others finding it harmful for equality, and some states even considering a ban on tipping. After the conclusion of the Civil War, employers began hiring newly freed slaves and paying them the lowest wages possible, building a reliance on customer tips to ensure a livable income. But, as racism still lingered, black workers often did not receive tips, or even when they did, some patrons took the workers’ tips as their own. Despite these problems, tipping was still integrated into today’s America, but workers’ reliance on it has yet to be overcome in some areas.

In several states, including Wyoming, South Dakota, and Kansas, restaurant workers earn more than 25% of their income through tips, while the ratio is around 20% for most other states. This highlights a major problem in how workers make a living, as tips are often inconsistent; for instance, the low ratio of tipping customers last year in Wyoming was around 16% instead of the regular rate of up to 20%. The things that states such as the aforementioned three have in common are that they either have non-existent or lower-than-federal-minimum wages, which means they apply the federal minimum wage.

But what about other countries? Do they also have problems with tipping? We should start by talking about the Americas. Canada and Colombia tip the same average amount as America (15-20%), and Mexico tips an average of 5% less. Some workers in South American countries, such as Brazil, do not expect but would appreciate a tip of up to 10%. In Europe, while some countries like France and Spain have a built-in service fee but would still be thankful for a tip, others, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, often do not receive tips as they do not need them. Generally, countries in Europe appreciate when a customer rounds up the bill, not necessarily when they tip a certain amount. In the Middle East, countries mostly expect the same amount as the U.S. does, even though some already have a service charge. In Africa, tips are often between 10 and 15%. In Australia and New Zealand, tips are not expected but are much appreciated. Finally, in East Asia, tipping is not the norm but has started gaining popularity in some areas.

Ultimately, tipping is a once-controversial activity that encourages labor and helps workers get by. It has started to grow among people from all around the world. Throughout history, tipping has been used to ensure exceptional service and show understanding. This small act of kindness goes a long way toward building bonds between people of a country and changing lives.

References:

1. “The History of Tipping: A Deep Dive into the Origins and Evolution”, Tiphaus, 2025, https://www.tiphaus.com/blog/The-history-of-tipping

2. Kamaran McNair, “How much of restaurant workers’ income comes from tips in every U.S. state—in one map”, CNBC, 2024, https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/13/map-us-states-where-restaurant-workers-rely-the-most-on-tips.html

3. Jenny Horowitz, “Tipping Around the World: A Global Gratuity Guide”, Western Union, 2017, https://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/global-tipping-guide