On Tips, Ironies, and Jobs Well Done - Commentary By Diana Sevanian, Signal, CA
Do I tip? Of course I do. Like everyone else, I enjoy my food hot, my water glass full, and the prompt return of my (hopefully un-dented) valet-parked auto.
But I also believe that such a pecuniary disparity furthers an environment where consumers ultimately supplement employers' payrolls. To me, the whole gratuity system supports a shallow incentive for ensuring customers get what they deserve in the first place: conscientious service.
While tips - its acronym often interpreted to mean "Tipping insures prompt (or proper) service - is a common practice here and in many other countries, some nations shun it.
Japan, for example, sees tipping as demeaning and rude. It suggests that servers have to be paid extra to do a decent job.
Imagine that.