In Western culture, tipping allows people to thank the staff of an establishment for the quality of the services offered by paying them a sum of money higher than the amount requested by the establishment.
Tipping in Europe is, therefore, generally linked to customer satisfaction. But this is not the case everywhere in the world!
Some countries approach tipping differently and even have negative views of it. It is therefore strongly advised to learn how much to tip before traveling to avoid making any mistakes.
The United States, the country with the highest tipping rate
In the United States, many employees in the restaurant and service industries depend on tips for a substantial part of their income. In many states, the legal minimum wage for employees who receive tips may be much lower than the standard minimum wage because it is assumed that the tips will make up the difference.
The average tip is 20% of the bill- the highest average in the world. It is appreciated that foreign tourists respect this custom out of respect for the servers.
North America generally includes tipping as a standard, with average tips of 10 to 20 percent in Canada, Mexico, and Cuba. To the south, Argentina is the most generous country, with an average tip of 10 to 15 percent.
Europe, a tip of around 10%
Throughout Europe, South Africa, and parts of South America, an average of 10% is typical.
In France, tipping is more moderate, although it is still practiced. On average, the tip is around 10% of the final bill. It is not automatic, but about 10% of the final bill. It is not automatic, but it is highly appreciated nonetheless.
Some European countries have specificities at this level. For example, in Italy, the tip can be included directly in the bill, which will be marked "servizio incluso" or "coperto." Some other countries have preferences on how to tip. In Poland, for example, it is recommended to tip directly to the waiter, not leave it on the table. Finally, it is common in Spain to round the note to the next highest round number. Therefore, for example, you will pay 20€ for a bill displayed at 18€.
Tip included countries
Like Italy, other countries have sometimes decided to integrate tipping directly into the service.
This is notably the case in Brazil, Colombia, and Chile in Latin America, Finland in Europe, and Eastern countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Iran. It is also the case in Thailand.
Tipping is sometimes synonymous with disrespect
Suppose tipping is seen as a gesture of generosity and thanks in most countries worldwide. In that case, it is not necessarily the case in some countries in Asia and Oceania.
In China, for example, modesty is valued in popular culture. It is, therefore, generally frowned upon to expose your money or your generosity, even if you have the best intentions.
In Japan, the quality of customer service is supposedly included in the displayed price. Tipping is, therefore, not expected, and it may even be not comforting because it suggests that the service was not commensurate with the price.
Finally, in Korea, tipping can be perceived as a desire to install a hierarchy between people or to display one's wealth, which is quite negatively perceived in a society bathed in Confucian principles of social harmony, modesty, and equality.
