[New York Diary] In the Land of Tips, How Much Is Enough?

A Year-End Tip Invoice Disguised as a Christmas Card
The Dilemma of Holiday Tipping in the U.S.
Even Americans Are Questioning the Tipping Culture

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Last week, I opened my mailbox and found a Christmas card. I thought it must have been sent to the wrong address, but it was indeed meant for me. And it wasn’t a Christmas card. Below the customary greeting "Happy Holidays, Happy New Year" were the names of the building’s janitors and doormen where I live. At that moment, I recalled hearing that in the U.S., you need to prepare a ‘holiday tip’ at the end of the year. It was a cautionary (?) piece of advice to avoid being treated coldly the following year. This card, disguised as a Christmas card, was actually a year-end tip invoice.

Many Koreans find it difficult to understand the tipping culture in the U.S. I, too, am not accustomed to tipping culture and often find myself pondering for a long time. In what situations, to whom should I give a tip, and if so, how much is appropriate? When I first arrived in New York, I heard that I didn’t have to tip Uber drivers, so I always just got off without tipping. Within just two months, my rating dropped significantly. After noticing the low rating, I started tipping, and my rating went back up. There is even a joke locally that people check Uber ratings to gauge how ‘generous’ their date is.

With U.S. inflation at its highest level in 40 years, I wonder if it applies to tipping as well. Recently, the tip options shown on restaurant or cafe bills have jumped to 25-30%. I thought I had somewhat adapted to the ‘capitalist country,’ or rather, the ‘country of tipping’ over the past year, but the year-end tip invoice I received again put me in a dilemma. Should I tip those I haven’t even introduced myself to? How much per person?

Holiday tipping seems to be a controversial topic even among locals every year. During this season, numerous ‘holiday tip guide’ articles flood the media, offering broad criteria (for example, $10 to $1,000 per person) that are hardly helpful. Many people seem to feel burdened by holiday tipping itself. Daniel, a Latin American living in Queens, New York, said, "I also work in a tipped profession, but having to pay a large sum all at once at the end of the year is a big burden." An Asian international student said, "There are only two or three staff members who know me by name and usually help me, but the list includes ten people," adding, "I tip everyone because I’m afraid the treatment will worsen if I don’t." This is a scene where holiday tipping, meant to express gratitude, becomes a ‘grudging necessity.’

Even Americans do not necessarily take tipping culture for granted. Among younger generations, resistance to tipping culture is spreading. Recent studies have confirmed that compared to the Baby Boomer generation, Millennials and Generation Z tend to tip less. In a survey released last month by PlayUSA, 95% of Baby Boomers said they always tip, while 84% of Millennials and 74% of Generation Z said the same. Additionally, 60% of all respondents said they want to eliminate tipping culture.

The resistance to tipping culture is intertwined with various factors. First and foremost is the unfair system where employees who do not receive minimum wage must rely on tips to maintain their income. There are also criticisms that tipping operates as a form of racial and gender discrimination in daily life. Furthermore, the background of tipping culture in American society includes ‘slavery,’ which has recently fueled calls for reforming tipping culture. Columnist Michelle Alexander criticized, "Tipping continues to perpetuate racial and gender discrimination today."

On the other hand, there are strong voices arguing that tipping should not be considered optional. Many people rely on tips to make a living. There is also the argument that tipping is part of American culture and a way to show appreciation for service. These points frequently appear in comments on pro and con tipping articles. It seems the tipping debate in the U.S. will never end.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.