AP reports that nationwide, a growing annoyance is brewing over tipping, a practice seen by some as becoming excessive. Social media is filled with complaints about being asked to tip at drive-thrus and for basic items like coffee or muffins at local bakeries. The worry is that soon, even doctors and dentists may expect tips.
With the adoption of digital payment systems, gratuity prompts are becoming increasingly common, even at places where it is not the norm, with some prompts asking for tips as high as 30%. This is made worse by the rise in prices due to inflation.
Etiquette expert Thomas Farley sees the trend as intrusive, saying that digital requests for tips are harder to ignore than tip jars and can create social pressure. Plus, people close to the screen, including the workers, can see how much you tip.