Tipping. We do it in the US.
…if we’re not a jerk.
But…why, exactly?
Have you ever encountered a situation where something completely ordinary, something you maybe never even give thought to, was suddenly done differently?
And maybe it made you wonder, “why do we do this in the first place?”
I think we need more of that.
Here’s a Friday happy hour thought for you…
On the corner of Broadway and Union in Seattle…
You’ll find Optimism Brewing.
I happened to be there last October when I was giving my first keynote at Amazon (totally humblebragging). I was staying in a nearby neighborhood and, as I try to do often, went for a long walk to explore the surroundings.
I stumbled upon this cool little ramen joint for dinner, then around the corner, stopped in at this place called Optimism Brewing for a good craft beer. I ordered an IPA and, as I was paying, I had to ask…
“So…how do I tip you?”
I didn’t see the option anywhere on the payment screen.
“You don’t.”
“We are a no-tipping establishment.”
In the US? Huh.
I remember my first trip to London learning that not every country has the same established tipping culture that we do in the United States. I expect differences if I’m abroad nowadays, but…here?
Optimism is tip-free
Interesting.
The bartender pointed me towards the QR code that explained the no-tipping policy at Optimism and – at least at face value – as I read through the detailed logic explained on the website, I thought…
“Those are really good points.”
- Tipping creates unfair disparities
- Tipping has a classist and racist history
- Tipping is sexist
- Customers don’t like tipping
- Tips do not fix poor service
- Tips create competition between workers
- Tips do not ensure good service
Wow.
I think I agree.
Now, I’ll stop here as I know you probably have an opinion on this. Good. You should.
But as I read the further explanations and reflected on my own experience – as a customer, as someone who worked in the service industry when I was much younger, as someone who cares – I couldn’t help but feel…
“Yeah. Why do we do this?”
You can read it for yourself and form your own opinion here https://optimismbrewing.com/tip-free.
…but what do employees think?
I was curious. So I asked.
Leah was one of the servers/bartenders working that day. She loved it.
She went on to describe, very enthusiastically, about why this was a great idea. Why the workers loved it. How Optimism had lower turnover than your average restaurant/bar. Why customers loved it.
It was rather inspiring to hear someone share that much positivity about the place they worked.
So, what’s the point here?
Don’t tip!
I’m totally kidding. That’s not the point.
The point is we take things at face value. We assume things are as they are. As they always have been and always will be and that’s just the way it is.
But what if it wasn’t?
What if the way we’ve always done wasn’t the way we should do it?
What if the status quo is no longer the status we wish to keep?
What if…just what if…you didn’t have to do things the way they’ve always been done?
Maybe that would be cool.
Maybe it could be even better!
I’ll drink to that.
Cheers,
Rick
(I’ll be here all night, don’t forget to tip your bartenders and waitstaff working hard for you…)
