TIPPING FATIGUE: STUDY REVEALS FALLING AVERAGE TIPS AT RESTAURANTS
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that 18% of people are tipping less than 15% for an average meal at a sit-down restaurant, with an additional 2% tipping nothing at all. The study polled 11,945 U.S. adults, with findings that surprised the co-author due to more than half of people tipping 15% or less.
The U.S. has a more highly developed tipping culture than most other countries, but there is a lack of agreement on the appropriate tipping amount. The survey also discovered that 37% of respondents consider 15% as their standard tip. However, historical data on tips isn’t available, so it’s unclear how these shares have trended over time.
Americans are more likely to tip for a sit-down meal than for any other service, with two-thirds of U.S. adults always tipping a server when they dine. Studies suggest that “tip fatigue” has led tip amounts to decline, as the average nationwide tip at full-service restaurants fell to 19.4% of the total check in the second quarter of 2023.
According to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, tipping 15% to 20% for sit-down restaurant service is recommended for the year 2023. Despite this, the share of people who always tip restaurant waitstaff has fallen, and Americans’ willingness to tip is decreasing.
The decline in tip amounts could be attributed to “tip creep,” the proliferation of tip prompts, and pandemic-era inflation, which has caused a pinch on household budgets. Consumers are also driven to tip for social approval, with just 23% of Pew survey respondents citing social pressure as a major factor.
The lack of a “centralized authority” to guide tipping norms is also a challenge relative to tip amounts, as social approval is a much stronger determinant of consumer behavior than service quality, according to experts.
Overall, the survey reveals a changing landscape regarding tipping culture in America, showing a shift in consumer behavior and attitudes towards tipping.
I have over 10 years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry and I have been on the list of the top authors on LinkedIn for the past 5 years. I have a wealth of knowledge to share with my readers, and my goal is to help them navigate the ever-changing world of cryptocurrencies.
