If you are like me, you have seen first-hand the struggle many businesses - especially restaurants - are having hiring enough employees right now. An acquaintance who owns a prestigious restaurant company in our metro area said they are so short-handed, they are running at only 50% capacity.

As a result, I've been tipping extra since the pandemic began last year. I like restaurants and want to encourage their staff to come to work and keep the industry going. Where I used to give about 20%, I've been rounding bills up to 25%.

Hell, I've even been tipping counter-service restaurants that I don't think really deserve tipping. Anything to help people out right now and encourage them to come to work.

According to this Bank Rate survey, many people adopted these behaviors during the pandemic, but now people are reverting to their old behaviors. Tipping is now about the same as it was before the pandemic. The pandemic premium has gone by the wayside.

A few numbers from the survey are interesting: 1) about 25% of people skip tipping completely in sit down restaurants: 2) only 59% of people tip food-delivery drivers; and, 3) few people tip in coffee shops. Just 24%.

The survey also explores tipping in taxis/ride shares, hair dressers, hotel housekeeping, and teachers. Overall, most Americans are confused about tipping and folks from other countries think tipping in the USA is pure madness. Adding to the mayhem are restaurants now charging 'health insurance' and 'social justice fees'.

Once most people get back to work, I'll return to my pre-pandemic tipping patterns. For now, I think employees and businesses need a little help and I'm happy to voluntarily provide it. M

How Have You Been Approaching Tipping Lately?

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