Before I start this article, I just want to be clear that if someone does a good job, I have NO problem with tipping them, in fact I tip more than expected all the time if the servies goes above and beyond. My major gripe with tipping is when, despite the service being terrible, you are still expected to tip. It creates an unhealthy level of entitlement in the work force that most other people can’t get away with. If someone does what is expected of them, then in most cases, why should we have to tip?
So recently Uber added tipping to the app which will allow you to tip your driver if they do a good job. If your driver is fantastic and it was simply a joy to be with them, then I totally understand, but doing it through the app in such a way sets a bad precedent. Before a tip, when paid in cash or out of pocket was something that the driver would always appreciate much more because it was never expected. Now tips are going to be expected when you take an Uber anywhere. Just like how if you don’t leave a waiter a tip they will think you are a massive asshole, eventually the same thing will happen with drivers. Because we have a passenger rating, you could essentially get blacklisted by Uber drivers for not tipping. This makes the tip essentially expected.
Uber passenger ratings do matter by the way. Many drivers will siphon people out who don’t have 4/5 stars or above, meaning it could take you much longer to get a car when you need one. Many people who have already been using the app for some time because of the affordability, don’t like the change. It’s good for the drivers who are doing it as a job, but it is just another time that a company can get away with paying their employees low amounts and pass the cost onto the customer. This isn’t how business is supposed to work. We as the consumer shouldn’t have to additionally compensate people so they can make a livable wage.
It seems like more and more these days, were expected to tip people above and beyond the work level they are doing. I understand this is because often times workers who collect tips are actually paid under minimum wage, but a common misconception is that their employers are not required to pay them for the difference if they are making under minimum wage. The way the law is written is that they are able to take tips into account when calculating income, but if they are under the state minimum wage level, they have to supply the rest. This means that essentially if no one tipped they would still make a living, probably much less, but still at minimum wage.
Most countries in the world do not have tipping on the levels we in the United States have it and especially for the types of jobs. Why don’t we tip the plumber 20% when he unclogs a toilet? The selection just seems random and confusing. Tipping overall seems very unnecessary and weird. Just pay the workers a fair wage, reflect the higher cost of labor in our prices and let’s leave it at that. This is a much simpler and efficient way of doing business.
Thanks to @Elyaque for the badges