Tipping around the world
If you don't travel or think much about what life is like in other parts of the world, you may think that the way you tip a cabbie or a waiter is universal.
Of course, it's not, but knowing that doesn't mean you can't be surprised or amused to hear about how the issue is handled in various countries.
I wasn't thinking about this until reading the comments to a posting about
Ramadan on an Australian cab driver's blog. In Australia, tipping isn't set up the same way it is in Canada or the States. I love how
Monash tells its students that it's "entrenched" but "not as essential as it is in the USA, perhaps because Australian workers are protected by a more generous minimum wage."
Going to an Australian tourism site, however, you get a
much less wishy-washy opinion: "
Tipping
is generally not expected within Australia, however it is acceptable to
leave a small amount should you feel you have received exceptional
service."
So what do you believe, "entrenched" or "not expected'? I'd say those are two very different views on the topic!
I give the time-breaking point to Aussie in America: "Australians 'employed in a service-related industry' are likely to
think it is a bonus to get an American customer. Americans 'employed
in a service-related industry' are likely to groan inwardly as soon as they
hear their customer has an Australian accent."
Ouch.
For a somewhat complete list, check out Wikipedia's
rather thorough article. And for additional amusement, check out
the discussion page, where the editors are hashing out what the final product should look like. An interesting fact from the discussion page is that in Japan tips are given out infrequently. It's apparently "seen as a voluntary action to either express personal wealth, status or just to be nice." And when the tip is given out, it's huge, worth up to a hundred dollars.
Interesting.
In case you're wondering, CAs (as well as,
sigh, CA-students)
can't accept tips or cash gifts from their clients. Then again, neither can the police - and for rather similar reasons too, really.