Seattle residents are pledging to stop tipping in the Democratic-run city after officials are about to enact a nearly $21-an-hour minimum wage.
The city in Washington state is to see the minimum wage rise on the first day of the new year, from $19.97 to $20.76.
That increase is in accordance with the city’s Minimum Wage Ordinance, which requires the wage rate to reflect the inflation rise within the Seattle area.
However, several residents are unimpressed with the idea of tipping workers on top of the high hourly rate however, and have been adamant they wouldn’t be adding gratuity anymore.
One user who shared a Reddit post on the wage hike, which has picked up steam in the local area, said: ‘With Seattle’s new minimum wage going into effect really soon, most food industry workers are finally reaching a level playing field.
‘As a result, I’ll no longer be tipping more than 5-10%. And I’m ONLY doing that if service is EXCEPTIONAL. It’s only fair—hard work deserves fair pay across all industries.
‘Any instance where I am ordering busing my own table, getting my own utensils, etc warrants $0. I also am not tipping at coffee shops anymore.’
Others have chimed in, with the vast majority of commentators agreeing with the sentiment.
The city in Washington state is to see the minimum wage rise on the first day of the new year, from $19.97 to $20.76
Residents are unimpressed with the idea of tipping workers on top of the high hourly rate however, and have been adamant they wouldn’t be tipping workers anymore
One person said: ‘I will only tip for service at our table. Being asked to tip before receiving a meal is a no go.
‘Being asked to tip because someone handed me a loaf of bread across the counter and then operated a till, not a chance.’
Another posted: ‘Federal trade commission should not get involved a this point. Businesses are purposefully [scamming] American consumers.
‘You’ll see tip options at all kinds of places, and the payment screen offering ‘suggestions’ is ridiculous. Needs to end.’
One other commented: ‘The fact that people are still asking for tips after getting paid a ‘living wage’ is hilarious.
‘The whole industry is set up to make people feel bad for not tipping, and for some strange reason, that’s not going away.’
Another said: ‘I went to a restaurant in Cap Hill where you ordered by QR code, called your name out and you have to place your own dishes in a bin.
‘The tip was still auto set to 18,20, and 25. I just don’t understand what service this owner is providing that goes beyond a McDonalds employee besides making higher quality food which is reflected in the process.’
The increase is in accordance with the city’s Minimum Wage Ordinance, which requires the wage rate to reflect the inflation rise within the Seattle area
Others have chimed in, with the vast majority of commentators agreeing with the sentiment.
In a statement announcing the change, Mayor Bruce Harrell welcomed the move to bring about the new minimum wage.
He said: ‘ Seattle has one of the highest minimum wages in the country – this is a good thing for workers, a good thing for our overall economy, and something we should take pride in.
‘As one of the leading members of the original team who developed Seattle’s groundbreaking minimum wage legislation, my mission is the same now as it was then – ensuring Seattle is both a great place for workers and a great place for small businesses.’
It comes after a report earlier this year that found Americans are now spending an average $453 more a year on tips that they normally.
In a statement announcing the change, Mayor Bruce Harrell, seen here, welcomed the move to bring about the new minimum wage
That increase was down to ‘guilt-tipping’, paying a tip out of awkwardness or pressure when you would rather not, which is on the rise.
Consumers say they have paid an average of $37.80 a month on reluctant tips because they would feel guilty about not doing so, according to new research. The amount is on top of what they wanted to tip, which was not specified.
The poll by Talker Research found that over a quarter of the 2,000 surveyed said they are ‘always or often forced to tip more than they would like.’
Typically, the average respondent had tipped more than wanted to six times in the past month alone.
The study also found that Gen Z and millennials ‘were almost twice as likely to say they “always” feel pressure to tip than older generations.’
In comparison, just 9 percent of Gen X and 5 percent of Boomers felt the same way.
Another recent study found that three-quarters of Americans believe tipping culture has gone too far.
The findings come amid a widespread backlash against ‘tipflation’ which has seen tipping culture spill out from bars and restaurants and into stores, takeout chains and even self-service machines.
