As I have already stated in one or two threads, I belong to the camp that dislikes the social custom of tipping and would like to see it end. Specifically, my gripe is that in (for example) North America, tipping is required by social convention: when you go to a sit-down restaurant, you are presented with a bill with a price but, although it is perfectly legal to pay only that price, you are expected to “voluntarily” top it up by up to 20% and if you don’t, the waitstaff is likely to resent you and you are guilted with the claim that you are cheating them of their fair earnings due to the existence of a lower minimum wage for tipped employees (not true in all jurisdictions: a handful, such as Alberta and California, require even tipped employees to get the full minimum wage rate). I certainly consider the very existence of lower minimum wages for tipped employees to be an injustice that I would start with eliminating completely. But would that be enough, or would more have to be done to make it socially acceptable not to tip under any circumstances?
What about what they did in France: there they have a system mandated by law where a service charge is automatically levied and it says on your bill that the service is included. As I understand from online sources, in France, tips are now entirely optional, though many people still round off their bill. (It’s not clear to me whether the service charge is included in the prices listed on the menu or added on separately to the total). Would doing this do the trick?
Or would it be necessary to outright ban tipping by law? I don’t necessarily suggest we go that route if a less drastic solution would be found, though if I had to choose between a system where leaving a tip were illegal even if you wanted to leave one and the current system where you are threatened with social censure and emotionally blackmailed into leaving a tip, I personally would prefer the option of making tips illegal.
I have read several articles online where some restaurants in New York tried to go non-tipping and then were forced to go back to it because 1) customers had a psychological problem with the raised prices (I would be under no such delusion - I would be fully aware that it replaces a tip); 2) some of them like to tip because it makes them feel empowered to reward or punish waiters (a bit of a fallacy); 3) some waiters themselves preferred receiving a lower tipped minimum wage + tips than a fixed wage because they ended up making more (to this I say all right, but then you are basically extorting me, the customer. If you reject a fixed wage that surpasses the lower tipped minimum wage because you’ll earn more with my tips and a lower tipped wage, then you are basically making a profit off your sob story about how if I don’t tip you, you earn almost nothing - see where I’m going with this?) This article is a good source on these issues.
What will be necessary in order for it to become socially acceptable in North America to just pay your bill and leave in sit-down restaurants (and elsewhere in the service industry) like you do in McDonalds or in any shop?
Disclaimer: I do realize that base prices would have to rise in restaurants in order for this to be feasible, but I think it would be OK if the rise did not require you to pay more than you would with a normal tip and if it were clearly stated that no further tips are necessary. I simply want the benefit of being given a final price that doesn’t require me to add anything to it or do math, or put otherwise, of having an intellectually honest right to pay only the price on the menu and of not being saddled with part of the business owner’s payroll.
“No one?” I don’t think that’s an accurate statement. Sure it’s unlikely that the server will say anything, but if you’re dining with others they very well might call you out for it. And if it’s a habit, people may want to eat out with you less. Saying no one will judge you for it seems incredibly false.