If you feel like you’re being asked to tip practically everywhere these days, you’re not alone. In addition to the traditional venues — restaurants, barber shops, cabs — customers are being prompted to tip everywhere from convenience store counters to self-checkout kiosks at airports.
Etiquette experts such as Thomas Farley — also known as Mister Manners — are calling the phenomenon “tipflation.”
“People are really feeling imposed upon,” Farley says. “We’re already living through inflationary times. Everything is crazy expensive. And on top of that, you’re being asked, every time you turn around, ‘How much would you like to tip?’ It feels pushy, it feels needy and almost every customer I speak with says, ‘Why aren’t businesses just paying people more?’”
It’s a good question, but don’t hold your breath for an answer. Rather, take solace in the knowledge that there are still scenarios where etiquette experts say a tip is not required — even if you’re presented with a tablet that asks for one.
Here are five people and scenarios that don’t require a tip.
Professionals
As a blanket rule, you don’t need to tip anyone who earns a salary or performs a trade. That means you don’t have to tip doctors, lawyers, teachers, plumbers or cable technicians.
“Not only would it not be expected, it would be highly unorthodox and very awkward,” says Farley. Plus, in certain situations, “you could be seen as attempting to curry some sort of favor or that it might be some sort of a bribe.”
Counter service
As a rule, anyone working at a counter is earning a wage, while those delivering food, either to your table or to your home, rely on tips as a major part of their income. For that reason, tipping people who work behind a counter, such as a barista or a cashier, is not a requirement as far as etiquette experts are concerned — even if the tablet suggests otherwise.
“When they turn that device around, it’s this glaring thing, and people feel shamed into tipping, but you don’t have…
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