With many Canadians facing greater financial constraints, sentiment around tipping culture is shifting.
Over the past few years, customers have seen “suggested” tipping amounts rise, and with more people paying on debit and credit machines instead of cash, they are being asked to tip more often.
Some say they are feeling annoyed at a time when they might be strapped for cash even before the bill arrives, but experts say there are ways to mitigate the issue.
“People need to do a bit of soul checking,” said Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy, CEO of Money Mentors.
“Just because someone asks for 30 percent on the machine, it doesn’t mean that’s what it warrants; it doesn’t mean that’s what you have to do. And I think we need to get around the culture of tipping, that it’s become this guilt-laden, ‘If you don’t tip, therefore somehow that says something about you,’” she said….