Don’t Blame the Gig Economy for Making Tipping Awkward

You don’t have to go very far to find yourself in an uncomfortable situation when it comes time to pay for an exchange of service or product. Walk up to the counter, order a cup of coffee or a burger and fries at a food truck, hand them your credit card to swipe and then wait … you know it’s a matter of seconds before the iPad swivels your way and you have to make the choice: to hit the button “no tip,” or select 10%, 20% and upwards. The default tip options are in your face and there is an awkward exchange between the employee, fellow patrons and your own conscience. You don’t want to look like a cheapskate but you don’t want to be taken advantage of either. What’s a person to do?

You don’t have to feel guilted into tipping for a simple service. You have to weigh the cost between feeling shamed into tipping and the actual service the person provided. Often times, counter staff is being paid a standard wage and does not rely on tips as part of their income. It’s nice to receive a tip, but not necessary.

Here is how to decide what to tip:

Listen to Your Mother

If you would tip the person if no one was looking, by all means, tip away. Give what you think they deserve. If you wouldn’t normally tip, but you feel like people are watching, don’t tip. (Take a hint from you mom when she taught you, “If Johnny jumps off the cliff, would you do the same?”)

Follow a Moral Compass

It’s not appropriate to skip a standard tip (i.e. restaurant server, nail salon, hair salon, delivery driver) because you think the service was too high. But, don’t allow the stares of others to affect your decision to hit “no tip” if the service is a three second transaction and all they did is ring you up for a croissant and carton of milk or a bottle of water you grabbed yourself from the case in front of the counter.

Tip for Good Service

I recently visited a restaurant to buy a t-shirt as a gift for an out of town friend. I walked in the door, asked for the size I needed and they handed me the t-shirt. I gave the person my credit card and she swung her iPad around for me to sign, with the option of a 15%, 20% or customized tip. I also had the option of “No tip.” If she would have wrapped the gift, given me a glass of soda while I waited and smiled at me, I might have tipped her (not any of the options above). But she barely looked at me, said nothing throughout the exchange and didn’t even thank me for the purchase. That constitutes “No tip” and I felt no shame.

It’s Up to You

We teach our children to make the right decisions, our students to be good stewards of their money and expect each other to be kind and civil humans. I am a “PRO TIP” advocate, but I believe strongly that you should not feel shame or guilt for not using the app to tip for a smile or service that should be provided anyways.

The choice to hit that little button is up to you. But, if you tip, and then complain, don’t blame it on the app. Don’t skip a tip for those who provide good service and work in an industry that makes less than minimum wage with the difference being made up by gratuity.

You may also like Ride Share Etiquette: Commonly Asked Questions. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.