Tip money. Tipping in different countries

The most difficult problem Russian restaurant goers face is whether to leave a tip? We, unlike other countries, where there were no serious upheavals in the form of communism, have not yet settled the rules of voluntary remuneration for services, so restaurateurs almost always leave the issue of service fees to the discretion of visitors. And while most of them prefer to answer this question with a refusal. For those who still doubt, we have collected the most necessary facts about tips: where they came from, why they are needed, how much they should be left in Russia and what waiters in other countries are content with.

Where did it even come from?

The English word gratuity in the sense of "money for service" appeared in the 1530s. It goes back to the Latin gratuitas - "gift". The more common and slang term for tip in English - tip - has a vague etymology. It spread in the middle of the 18th century and, perhaps, was borrowed from the thieves' slang, where it was used in the sense of "give". This version is described in the Online Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, a very respectable portal used by scientists and students of prestigious universities. Also in English sources you can find a version that the word TIP is an abbreviation (To Insure Promptness - “to ensure efficiency”). Allegedly, it appeared at the beginning of the 17th century in taverns, the owners of which offered visitors to ensure the speed of order fulfillment by donating to a jar on the counter. The online dictionary confirms that for the first time this word with the meaning "give some money" appeared around 1600, but does not say anything about the version with the abbreviation on the bank - it is especially common in Russian-language sources. In some languages, tips are called "drink money". This goes back to the medieval tradition of offering a drink to a servant in honor of an arriving guest.

From all of the above, it follows that the tradition of giving some money or gifting something to a servant as a token of gratitude or to improve the quality of services arose in the deep Middle Ages (approximately XIV-XV centuries). The appearance of this custom in Russia probably happened a little later. Admirers of Russian classical literature remember that in pre-revolutionary works they gave vodka more often than tea. But it was the word “tip”, and not “vodka”, that got accustomed. In the 19th century, when tea ceased to be a luxury item, an unspoken rule arose in taverns - to leave the servants "primary" - money for service, which was enough for a small portion of the cheapest loose tea in this establishment. Since the middle of the 19th century, the concept of “tea” has already been found in literature, and innkeepers stop paying salaries to their employees. They receive money only in the form of tips, and sometimes even pay extra to the owner for the opportunity to earn. This ended during the October Revolution.

The philosophy of the Communist Party of the USSR did not allow the Soviet person to take from above - which did not in the least prevent the Soviet person from doing this. Today's taxi drivers, for example, are very fond of playing the comedy "no change at all" when you pay them in cash, a practice that began in the Soviet Union with its official disapproval of tips. Now a new chapter in the history of tipping is opening in Russia.

Is tipping mandatory?

Russian people have not yet decided the issue of tips. In Moscow restaurants, about a third of visitors leave a reward, in the regions - even less. Since there is no long-term tradition of paying bonuses to waiters yet, discussions are still ongoing in Russian society. Opponents of this type of encouragement sometimes take the position of the Japanese: tips humiliate the waiter, put him in a dependent position. Others consider it wrong to reward restaurant employees, but ignore everyone else: in Russia, waiters, like everyone else, receive a salary for their work, why do they need some kind of additional allowance from the client? Stones also fly into the garden of restaurateurs: some visitors believe that at their expense, restaurant owners save on salaries and bypass taxes. Proponents of tipping in response to these objections usually refer to the Western tradition of leaving rewards to waiters and other service workers, and those who do not are called insufficiently mature (both financially and ethically). So to the question: "To leave or not to leave money in the check pocket?" in Russia you will have to answer on your own for the time being. But some restaurants help their patrons with the answer - include a service charge directly on the bill or hint with some phrase on the check that it would be nice to pay the waiter. Moreover, many of them really live mainly due to tips.

And how much should be left?

In Russia, it is customary to leave 8-10% of the order value. It is possible more - at your discretion. Some restaurants have a tip fork on their checks: that is, you leave a certain percentage of the bill, depending on how you rate the service. For example, 5% - satisfactory, 10% - good, 15% - excellent. But remember that your money doesn't always go straight into the waiter's pocket. In some restaurants, it is customary to divide bonuses equally between all employees (or between all waiters). It is believed that this kills competition and allows you to serve visitors more efficiently. If the money is still divided equally, then one waiter will be able to calmly approach the table of another and visitors will not have to wait long for service. In other establishments, waiters take their personal earnings and share them with cooks and cleaners. Sometimes just like that, sometimes for additional services, such as cleaning appliances from stains.

How much is customary to leave in other countries?

The largest tip in the US - less than 15% is not accepted here, and everything else depends on the state. Somewhere the waiters will expect 25% of the bill from you, and somewhere even half. This phenomenon is explained simply - many establishments in the United States do not pay wages to waiters and they have to live on the gratitude of customers. Leaving money is accepted even for poor service. Then the client has the right to pay the waiter not with banknotes, but with a couple of coins. By the way, you will have to fork out not only in a restaurant: in the USA, representatives of all professions who provide you with any services, including cloakroom attendants and even ushers, will expect you to tip.

For Europe, the German newspaper Berner Zeitung has deduced the following rule: the more south the country, the more tips. But it doesn't always work. For example, in sunny Spain and Italy, local residents rarely leave money to service personnel, and if they do, then only 5 percent and only in restaurants. But from tourists here they expect at least 10-15% of the bill. In France, with stricter bonuses - the same 10-15% will be included in your bill. Plus it is considered good manners if you leave a little more on top - personally for the waiter.

For Eastern Europe (including Russia), it is considered normal to leave 10% of the bill to the waiter, and in Scandinavia, tipping is treated as a formality. For example, in Sweden, you can simply keep change or ask for the bill to be rounded up. A 10% tip here is a sign that you enjoyed it very much. In small cafes, as a sign of gratitude, you can not leave money, but, for example, clean up the dishes.

In the UK, leaving something on top is customary only in restaurants, and sometimes an additional fee is already included in the bill. The check may say: "Service not included", then feel free to leave a 10% tip to the waiter. For other services, the British do not expect additional remuneration, except for a pound or two for the delivery man, and then at will. Never leave a tip in bars and pubs - this is not customary here. If you have been going to the same place for a long time and have already made friends with a local bartender, you can offer him a drink at your own expense. If the bartender is not allowed to drink on the job, then he will take this offer as an opportunity to take 1 pound as a tip.

In China, no one expects a reward from you, but if you give it, they will take it, but in Japan you can seriously offend an employee with your “handouts”. The Japanese believe that they are able to independently pay their workers who respect their work and the pay due for it. Therefore, extra money is an insult to both the waiter and the restaurateur. Icelanders can also leave nothing - although in this country prices are so high that you hardly want to.

Can I pay by card?

Theoretically, yes, you can ask the waiter to include service in the bill and pay for everything with a card, but the waiter himself is unlikely to be very happy with such a reward. The money will come to him only after a few days and not in full. The same applies to those establishments that indicate on the check the ability to pay for services with a card. It happens that bonuses are summed up for all waiters, and then divided between them, kitchen workers and cleaners. With taxes, it's quite a bit.

Yandex.Taxi also stubbornly invites its users to tip the driver after each trip. The application will deduct the required amount from your card.

Tipping rules are available in all countries. Somewhere tips make up more than 20 percent of the total bill, somewhere (as, for example, in France) tips are included in the bill in advance. In most countries and cases, tips are given in the amount of about 10-15 percent of the total bill. How are things in our country?

Where in Russia should you tip - how much and to whom?

Abroad, it is customary to tip, with rare exceptions, to everyone who serves you. In this sense, Russia has either succeeded, or, on the contrary, is trailing behind: in our country, they only give tea to waiters. Moreover, if in the West a person leaves a tip automatically, then in Russia many will not even have such an idea. And even if the service was top notch. Therefore, in some cases, following Western practice, many owners of such establishments already include a tip in your bill. Or they write on the bill - "Tipping is welcome." In case - suddenly, you wanted to thank the waiter, but were too shy. Who else in Russia, in addition to waiters, maids, porters and bartenders, is it customary to tip ?

• Should I tip taxi drivers?

  If the taxi driver arrived on time, was polite and courteous, did not drive you around the city, winding up the meter, then you can also give him a tip. Although, of course, you don't have to. According to the taxi drivers themselves, the best way is to leave a tip under glass or just say “no change”. The amount depends only on your generosity, there are no prices for tips from taxi drivers.

Tipping will depend, as elsewhere, on the quality of service. It includes courtesy and promptness, even installation of the hose in the tank, accuracy (so that the car is not poured over), etc. As a rule, the amount of a tip to a tanker is from 20-50 rubles and more. Money is left before returning to the car, after paying at the cash desk, or at the window.

Employees of hairdressing salons are given tips much less often than taxi drivers or even gas stations. And this tip should be given carefully and carefully so as not to spoil the mood of your master's colleagues. The amount is usually between 5 and 15 percent of your account.

Their salary is also not always ideal, and everyone needs to feed their families. Given the cost of the procedure, not everyone wants to leave a tip. And this system of tips is not so developed in our country. Usually a manicurist in Russia leaves a tip of 100-200 rubles.

• How much to tip the cloakroom attendants

  Tipping in this profession is 50-100 rubles, depending on what exactly and where you put in the wardrobe and whether you are worried about your thing.

The tip rate is 10 to 15 percent of the bill. The best thing is not to take change or put money on top. Of course, it’s not worth it to casually snort “change is not necessary” when the change is 10-15 rubles - this will offend the bartender, and you will not present yourself in the best light.

• Tips for the courier (pizza, sushi, delivery of flowers and other goods)

  If the order was delivered on time, if the pizza was not covered with ice, and the flowers were not wilted, then it is customary to tip the courier in the amount of 30-100 rubles. It is best to do this, according to the couriers themselves, at the moment when the courier is going to say goodbye to you.

• How much do train conductors and flight attendants tip?

  When buying something, paying for tea / coffee and other things, it is customary to leave change or pay a tip in the amount of 50 rubles.

Usually, payment in a beauty salon is made through the cashier. Therefore, girls who want to thank their master thank them with a tip separately. It is most convenient to put money on the table in the office. The amount usually ranges from 10 to 20 percent (100-500 rubles).

The reasons for tipping are the sea: the atmosphere of the holiday, the game, good mood, etc. Tipping depends, again, on the generosity and work of the animator. Usually - from 500 rubles and more.

That's really who on the tip has almost a separate income. The average tip is from 300-2000 rubles and more. Depending on the talent of the dancer. Well, everyone knows how to tip strippers correctly.

• Whether to tip doctors (nurses, etc.)

  In this case, the tip, rather, is in the nature of cash gifts. They are presented in envelopes, and the amount depends on the quality and regularity of the service.

Tips for people on whom your car depends, it is better not to be stingy. Typically, tips for employees start at 300 rubles. And they should be given in advance and directly to the master. The next time you need their help again, your car will be serviced faster and better.

How to tip properly - tipping rules

There is nothing unnatural in thanking the person who served you well with a tip. Another question is if the service was, to put it mildly, far from ideal. Here you can give the bare minimum of what is required. So you show that you know about the rules, but the waiter (or other employee) did not deserve more.

• The usual tip size is equal to the smallest denomination of the country. In the case of Russia, it is 10 rubles.
• If the amount of the order exceeds 100 rubles, the tip is usually equal to 10 percent of the order. But in Russia it may be 5 percent.
• The porter at the hotel should receive 1-2 dollars for moving one of your suitcases. Money can be given to him.
• As for the tip for the maid - you can't cross paths with her. So just leave the money on the bed. You should not leave a tip on the table: if the maid is conscientious, she will not take them (what if you forgot this money?).
• It is not customary to leave large tips in bars. But you can give 10 percent of your order amount or not take the change that you gave for change.

Is it always necessary to tip - the Russian mentality

There can be only one answer - that the service be of high quality. It is no secret that the salary of service personnel is far from ideal. And tips are an incentive for waiters and maids to do better work.

• Tipping the maid will clean your room more carefully and timely change towels and linen. She will not show up after dinner, when you are resting, but will wait for your absence.
• You won't wait 40 minutes for a waiter to get your tip. He will bring you the dishes quickly and with a big smile, change the ashtray as soon as you put out your cigarette, and will stand nearby, ready to fulfill your next wish.
• In a cafe and bar, you will immediately be remembered as a generous client, and will be served at the proper level..

In general, tips are a guarantee of your excellent mood during your vacation and quality service.

Etiquette and tips - when not to tip?

• Don't tip by shying away like you're doing something embarrassing. Smile, say the traditional "thank you" and, looking at the employee, give the money.
• If there is very little money left, it is better not to give anything. With a bill of more than 3-4 thousand, a tip of 10 rubles is almost an insult.
• When relaxing in restaurants, carry cash in small bills even if you are used to using plastic cards.
• Tipping is not a duty or obligation . Tipping is gratitude. If you are satisfied with the service, be generous. You will not lose, and the waiter will become at least a little happier.

Tipping is a great way to reward wait staff and, in most countries, the main income of waiters, maids, porters. The tradition of expressing gratitude with money is not so popular among Russians, so many Russians are wondering how much to tip in Russia.

How much to tip: countries of the world

Most of all, it is customary to thank service workers in the USA and France. Americans encourage everyone:

• waiters;
• taxi drivers;
• maids;
• hairdressers;
• art staff;
• cooks;
• refuelers, etc.

Usually the amount given out over the account is 15-25%. The French prefer to include an additional column in the bill - service, which is 10-20% of the order.

Tourist countries in the Middle East practically live off tips. Each tourist himself determines how much to leave a tip, but the unspoken generally accepted norm is from 10%.

The Japanese and Chinese believe that "handouts" offend their feelings, respectively, they never accept extra money. Representatives of a hardworking nation are able to chase a generous client, returning change to him.

Tipping in Russia

The Russian mentality is arranged in such a way that paying for services above the indicated prices is perceived as an unnecessary action. Before deciding how much to tip, you need to know that most of the waiters in St. Petersburg work on the minimum wage, and cash rewards are the main or only income.

In Russia, it is considered correct to leave a tip to the waiter, bartender, porter in the amount of 50 rubles. When paying an invoice in St. Petersburg with a bank card, the client says in advance how much to add. But it is possible to receive a reward not completely and after a certain time, when the money passes through the tax system of the enterprise. Therefore, it is recommended to carry cash with you.

Where it is customary to give tea in St. Petersburg:

• cafe, bar, restaurant;
• Taxi;
• Beauty Salons;
• filling stations;
• car washes, service stations, tire fitting;
• private clinics.

In this material, our editors tried to collect answers to the most exciting questions about tips: we studied the world practice, talked with workers in this field (from waiters to owners of establishments) so that no one would be embarrassed - neither waiters nor visitors.

How much to tip?

This question often "torments" many people. There are situations when there is no firm certainty how much money you need to leave the waiter and whether to leave it at all.

An unwritten tradition says that in Russia it is customary to leave 10% of the check amount. Of course, this extends to those people who are worried about their reputation among the serving staff of their favorite establishment. If you don’t care, then the size of the tip depends on your mood: you liked everything and have extra money - a couple of small bills in denominations of 50-100 rubles will be a good bonus to the waiter’s salary. If the service was terrible, and there is no patience in the restaurant - do not give anything, or leave a trifle and run away from there.

However, not in all countries it is customary to give “for tea”. For example, every Japanese has the belief that good customer service is a professional duty that does not require additional encouragement. To tip a waiter is to offend him. The same applies to Japanese tourists, who, according to a sociological survey, travel less than I would like, because of the need to tip everyone in a row.

In general, each country has its own peculiarities of encouraging service personnel. In the United States, it is customary to tip everyone: taxi drivers, cashiers at McDonald's, maids, hairdressers, porters, and even drivers of free shuttles. In England, gratitude to the bartender can be expressed by treating him to a drink at your own expense. And in Germany, you can’t leave the money intended for the waiter in the open: it’s better to cover it with a napkin and just leave. Modesty in this matter is an important quality, thanks to which you express gratitude for good service.

It is curious that in poorer countries such as Turkey or Cuba, the issue of tips is more relevant. Waiters in such countries are usually paid little, and the main income comes from "extra fees" from patrons. Therefore, one should not be surprised at the annoying courtesy of Turkish guards - they just need to feed their families.

Do I need to pay a tip at all?

There is no single answer. As the waiters themselves say, this is not the duty of every client - it is an expression of gratitude, like the word "thank you". And if the service really was that good, a small amount of money would be more eloquent than any praises.

We asked the owners of Chelyabinsk establishments what they think about this:

Alexey Noskov, co-owner of PizzaMania:

What is a "tip" anyway? This is a response to the quality of service. If a tip is left, it means that the service is not bad or even excellent. If they do not leave, then the situation with the service is lame. However, you need to understand what format we are talking about. In fast food, for example, tips are not left. And in the premium segment, not leaving a tip is, on the contrary, almost a violation of some unwritten code.

In some establishments, the line “for service” is already included in the order amount. This is not a tip, but the income of the restaurant, which, by the way, depending on the taxation system, should also fall into official reports. But this, in my opinion, is a violation of ethics in relation to the Guest. And I never did that. If I find out that my waiters are “extorting” tips or provoking the Guest to this (for example, delaying change), I will simply fire such an employee.

Tatyana Starovoitova, manager of the Decameron restaurant:

The waiter a priori must work well, no one is obliged to leave a tip. If you don't like the job, find another one. A waiter is a creative profession: a stylist, a psychologist, and a mathematician. If you are not like that, you are not a waiter, but a food and drink server.

However, in some countries, the service charge is already included in the bill under the “service fee” column. So, for example, in the USA or Singapore, you do not need to think about how much to leave for the waiter - a certain percentage of the total order is already included in the check, and can reach 25%.

Should a waiter give good service to every guest, whether they were tipped or not?

As mentioned above, in some countries it is believed that any work should be done well without additional payment. And rightly so, because doctors or builders don't get tips for doing a better MRI than another hospital or building a better house than others. However, the service sector is a completely different business area, and its own rules apply. “Tipping” has been around for a long time, it is an unwritten rule that has settled in the minds of many people, and therefore it is difficult to ignore this phenomenon.

But at the same time, tipping is not an obligation. Official legislation does not restrict either customers in encouraging, or waiters in receiving additional money for service. Since this contradiction is difficult to lead to an unambiguous solution, it is necessary to act as you want.

Yes, I believe that a waiter, like anyone who aspires to become a professional in their field, should a priori work without additional incentives. However, the waiter must understand that his efforts have a rare opportunity to be rewarded literally immediately. Believe me, this knowledge is an excellent incentive. Those who worked in line positions in a restaurant will understand me. Personally, my record of tipping as a bartender per day in one well-known entertainment complex in Odessa in the late 90s amounted to a dozen average monthly salaries. For the sake of this, we treated the Guests very carefully and respectfully, - says Alexey Noskov.

Do I need to tip at business lunches?

Since the format of a business lunch implies a relatively small fixed payment (as a rule, it is 250-350 rubles), the issue of tips in this case is very relevant. 10% of the check for a business lunch is equal to 25-35 rubles, which in our time can only be given in small change. The amount is not so big, it will seem more like an insult than gratitude for good service. The same rule will apply here as with a regular dinner in a restaurant - pay as much as you see fit. Dinner was brought quickly and hot, was it quickly calculated and even given a “chewing gum”? You can leave 50-100 rubles and leave with a clear conscience. Was bad? I ate quickly and left - and next time look for another place.

How much and how to tip the bartender?

It's one thing when the waiter only brings food and ensures a comfortable stay in the establishment, it's another when the bartender prepares drinks, serves, accepts money, and communicates. However, the approach to tips is the same: 10-15% of the order, if the bartender quickly served, served correctly and listened to the next problems, as is usually shown in films.

We asked Kirill Tkachenko, a former bartender at the Lost Society, about how much tips he received relative to his official salary:

Everything depends on the season. In summer, wages prevail over tips, in winter the opposite is true. Guests often come in to warm up with strong drinks and sit at the bar, and, accordingly, they can already reward you with a tip for the work done. Or give a tip for a good dialogue. Spring and autumn are almost always 50/50, - Kirill shares.

If you give the bartender a tip, will he serve faster?

There is a belief that the bartender will serve faster than the one who gives the most tip. In fact, it happens in different ways:

It didn’t affect me in any way, everything was done in a queue, everyone was served the same way, they always tried to work as quickly as possible, and they didn’t forget to monitor the quality of service and cooking, ”said Kirill, the bartender.

Here, again, everything depends both on the country and the institution in general, and on the bartender in particular: in the USA there is such a practice, since there are usually a lot of visitors, and those who pay are served first of all. We do not have a developed culture of tipping, so it is stupid to hope that the client will give money for the speed of serving the drink. Such is the mentality. Remember yourself: "if the bartender works, then let him do it equally well for everyone."

The size of the tip when serving a banquet, a large company?

If this question concerns a banquet and similar events, where there is one organizer and the rest of the guests, then, of course, the organizer pays. This can be discussed in advance, even at the stage of agreeing on the menu and the cost of the whole evening. Sometimes tips are given after the end of the banquet to all service personnel: security guards, server workers, waiters, cooks, and so on. And this is done by the administrator or the owner of the hall, to whom the amount was allocated to encourage staff. Or, in rare cases, during a banquet, one of the guests can personally give a couple of banknotes “for tea” into their hands.

If we are talking about companies that just come to the restaurant to relax with their families, then here it is the same as with a single visit: 10% from the check, it doesn’t matter if it is general or individual.

Do waiters share tips with other restaurant staff?

Yes, but not everywhere. Here, too, there are no strict rules. If the waiter believes that receiving a tip depends only on his work, then he takes the entire amount for himself without remorse. If he is sure that he could not have coped without the help of a dish polisher, dishwashers, cleaners and cooks, then “tea” is divided into all those who participated in the service process. At the same time, in some establishments, the waiter's remuneration is collected in a common box, and then divided among the entire staff. There are also restaurants where the administrator has established a rule that the waiter is not entitled to take the entire amount for himself, and must necessarily share the tip with the chefs and bartenders.

Should you tip coins or small bills?

Undoubtedly, this is better than nothing, because a penny saves a ruble. Considering that there are usually a lot of such visitors during the day, for this little thing you can buy, for example, a pack of cigarettes or take a taxi after a night shift. But again, you have to be careful. Having eaten for 490 rubles and paid 500, it is not recommended to speak with a wide hand to the whole hall “No surrender!”. This may offend the waiter. There is a chance that you will definitely not like this place the second time. The same applies to the situation with business lunches, which we discussed above.

It is better not to make such “wide” gestures - this is stupid. Better to just pay and leave. But any little thing left by visitors as a tip is collected and set aside. Out of 5-10 such small tips, you can save up for cigarettes - a trifle, but nice, - says Nikita Podkorytov.

How much does a waiter get in tips per month?

We asked the waiters and owners of Chelyabinsk establishments about this.

At Slavyanka, my salary consists of a salary and a bonus for working at banquets, plus bonuses from the sale of expensive alcohol. Of these, the salary is equal to the minimum wage, approximately 7900. The rest varies on how productive the month was. In the worst case, the salary is half the salary, in the best - a quarter, - Evgeny Firyago shares.

There are practically none at the current place of work, and at the last tip I doubled the salary. This is because rich people came to us and could leave large sums. I could get 10 thousand for ten minutes of work, or I could be completely left without tea for the whole evening. But, as a rule, at the end of the day, a thousand was definitely in your pocket. This is on the condition that tips are shared in our network, - says Nikita Podkorytov.

Unfortunately, the employer often climbs into the pocket of the waiter. Somewhere they pay a penny salary, in the range of 6-8 thousand per month, explaining that "well, you have a tip." And someone takes a 15% tip from the waiter simply because "we give you the opportunity to earn." Personally, I think it's low to go into someone else's pocket, - says Tatyana Starovoitova, manager of the Decameron restaurant.

Tipping is not only the personal merit of the waiter, it is good service and joint work with the kitchen. Therefore, the employer does not have the right to take into account the tip when calculating the waiter. I had a motivation program in the restaurant: 30 rubles per hour and a percentage of personal sales, plus bonuses for fulfilling the plan and personal tips, - Timur Zhanaydarov, the curator of the kitchen at the PLOVE restaurant, shared his experience.

Do waiters get offended when they don't leave a tip?

All the waiters we interviewed answered approximately the same: “you get used to it.” Again, in our country, tipping is more of a rarity than a rule. And many do not know how to do it, although there is a desire. The most common wish from the waiters: "no need to turn a tip into a manifestation of Christ to the people." I wanted to thank with money - I left as much as I needed, thanked and left. If you want, but you can’t, you said “thank you” and left. And once again arrange a circus and ask for the laurels of a generous donor - it's not worth it. This offends both the waiter and the establishment as a whole. Therefore, there is no better gratitude than a respectful attitude to the work of any person, regardless of social status or well-being.

The quality of education is always visible in the manner of communication with the attendants. We must be able to respect the work of others and thank you in time for the help provided. Tipping is a great way to say a sincere "thank you" by paying an easy amount, how much a waiter, porter or tanker really deserves.

What is a tip and how long do they exist

The topic of tipping is gradually becoming more popular. A little money or a gift shows the maid, bartender, taxi driver that his work is significant and encourage him to develop in his field. Tipping in will help cheer up the waiter. To voluntarily reward excellent work is to improve service quality. There are several versions of the origin of the tip:

• 18th century. In tea houses, popular with the aristocracy, they put special boxes with the inscription “T.I.P.S”, where they put coins, no matter how sorry, for the staff. The meaning of the abbreviation is literally "to speed up service" or "To Insure Prompt Servise". After that, capital letters and dots were removed, making the inscription the general designation of a tip in English.
• In the 16th century, water was collected from wells. Some strong citizens voluntarily helped the rest to lift a heavy bucket from there and bring it home. For this they were thanked with a small payment called trinkgeld or "drinking money".
• In the 18th century, it was customary to reward restaurant pedlars so that they would work faster, do a great job. The extra charge matched the price of the cheapest tea.

Tipping today

According to etiquette, now you need to leave a tip for the amount that goes to 10% of the size of the check. This money is given voluntarily as an encouragement to the employee of the service sector that they like. The reward contributes to the future improvement of the quality of service.

The rules of good manners allow you to leave a small gift instead of money. Non-monetary incentives are also common. Such a concept as a tip is interpreted quite broadly. The administrator at the counter will be pleased to receive a souvenir from a distant country from a grateful client, and the absence of a cash payment will prevent the employee from suspecting a bribe or self-interest.

According to statistics, only half of the people consider tipping mandatory, the rest are either unfamiliar with this concept or do not know how to do it.

Do I need to pay a tip at all?

Encouragement for service according to etiquette is not at all a duty. The situation when they give a tip to the bartender, whose quickness leaves much to be desired, is undesirable. Expressing gratitude is an act of goodwill, you do not need to follow everything too literally.

However, encouragement comes with its own benefits. Giving a tip of 50-200 rubles to the seller you like is not burdensome, but it will improve further service, the attitude of the staff.

If the process of providing the service required additional actions from the employee (the taxi driver had to stop at an ATM, the porter had to carry too fragile or heavy luggage), it is highly recommended to pay a little more than the usual fee. A little tip to the waiter who serves the big one or the maid who cleans up the mess created by the client compensates for the spent energy.

Who gets to pay tips

There are areas and positions where it is considered customary to accept a tip. Employees in some industries even consider not receiving additional pay as a sign of customer dissatisfaction. Cafes, expensive hotels are traditionally places where it is recommended to leave a small amount to the staff. To whom it is customary to pay a tip:

• It is customary for taxi drivers to leave a percentage of the cost of the trip or a small amount. How much to pay is determined by the duration and complexity of the route.
• Waiters, bartenders of a cafe or restaurant. Sometimes the encouragement is passed on to the chef. Money to the waiter is sometimes simply included in the bill, it is recommended to clarify this point in advance.
• Hairdressers, manicurists, cosmetologists.
• Maid, hotel porter.
• Tankers.
• Pizza delivery men, couriers, messengers.
• Doorman.
• Concierges and watchmen.
• Guides and guides.
• Sellers.
• Wardrobe attendants.
• Train conductor when paying for additional services or at the final station.
• Animators.
• Auto service workers.

They do not tip people whose profession implies decent pay, but it is allowed to express gratitude with small gifts.

Do not receive tips:

• flight attendants;
• Doctors;
• Officials and officials (there is a risk of being punished for a bribe);
• Psychoanalyst;
• Translator;
• Trainer.

How appropriate to tip

Tipping is accepted in cash only. In order not to create an awkward situation, it is recommended to carry small money with you, counting in advance how many establishments you will have to visit. A few bills are easy to give when paying with a card or put in an envelope with a check when leaving the establishment.

It is customary to express gratitude according to etiquette after the service rendered. The porter or porter will not refuse a tip when they let you into the establishment or near the door of the room.

How much to tip

The size of the tip depends on the desire of the visitor, but there is a threshold below which you should not fall. This is about 5-20% of the bill or 50-100 rubles. A smaller amount is more like alms and can offend. How much to leave a tip in a restaurant, beauty salon, car service determines the quality of the service. Very satisfied with delicious food, a successful haircut, the client can leave a decent amount to the master or the waiter.

How to tea properly

A few simple rules will help to thank the employee with dignity without offending him:

• You should not express embarrassment when giving a tip, it is better to smile sincerely and say out loud: “Thank you.”
• You can not pay money with the appearance of a favor or hint at any additional services.
• No need to rummage through your wallet for too long in search of little things or, on the contrary, act in a hurry.
• A handful of coins poured into the hand of a porter or waiter can offend. It is unacceptable to leave a trifle, which then will simply interfere with the employee.
• Arrogantly declaring that surrender is not necessary is not recommended. The client, trying to rise at the expense of the employee, instead of gratitude, inflicts an insult.

Tipping abroad

In Europe, Asia and the New World, the culture of tipping is very different.

• Tipping is required in all areas of service. Not leaving money to a taxi driver or waiter is considered bad manners.
• , a country where tipping is accepted at the state level. The additional fee is usually 15%. Sometimes it is immediately included in the bill.
• In,, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, countries, it is not customary to leave a tip, although this is allowed for tourist areas.
• Tipping can offend the owner of the establishment. It is believed that hospitality should be free of charge.
• In countries where the tourism industry is developed (Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia), staff consider it mandatory to receive cash from guests.

Tipping culture in Russia

The topic of tipping in the post-Soviet space has been discussed relatively recently. Before the collapse of the USSR, it was believed that any person is paid exactly as much as the labor he invests for a common cause. Instead of tips, scarce gifts were distributed to doctors, teachers, and trade workers. Gradually attitudes began to change. People began to enter into the real situation of service personnel.

In Russia, now the average tip is 100 rubles, or 10% of the check amount. Generous clients pay much more. For public institutions, tipping has become commonplace.

Tipping as the main income

In the case when the institution pays unreasonably little, relying on tips, the staff has to live only on the money from serving guests. In some hotels or restaurants, the waiter or porter receives almost nothing. His salary directly depends on the mood and how much money the client left. This state of affairs is common in the United States and is gradually becoming commonplace in Russia. In these cases, not giving a tip means leaving the employee without a salary.

conclusions

Tipping is a sign of gratitude. How much to pay depends on the quality of service and mood, but you should not leave too small an amount. Surcharge for the service is voluntary, but it is worth taking into account the official fee of the employee and materially rewarding diligence.