On: Year of Upheaval for Restaurants That Ended Tippin...

[adiabatty]

Two or three decades ago 15% was modal (and it might still be), but I hear the mean crept up to 18% sometime in the past five years.

[tmnvix → adiabatty]

Interesting. I wonder why. Maybe compensating for stagnating wages? Or maybe falling food and beverage costs (in relative terms)?

[erroneousfunk → tmnvix]

I live in the US and have noticed the same phenomenon. I assumed it was just social pressure and growing awareness of inequality and poor living conditions of some wait staff. Giving an extra $2 is an easy way to feel good about yourself. Then more people started doing it, and to keep feeling good about yourself you had to tip more and more. I'll give exactly 15% if the service is bad, 20% if it's good.