A tip (also known as gratuity) is a small amount of money received by some service sector professionals from persons they serve, in addition to or instead of a formally required payment. These transactions are governed by social custom.

There are no standing rules or obligations concerning whether to tip (tip is both a noun and a verb), who to tip or how much. It varies from being considered rude to offer a tip (the other may find it degrading, as if (s)he is a beggar) to being considered very stingy not to give a tip. Also it may be worse to give a very small tip than to give nothing.

Some establishments forbid their employees to accept tips. Others pool tips and divide them to include employees who don't have customer contact.

Bribery may be disguised as tipping.

Tipping by region

In the United States and Canada, these people are likely to expect to be tipped:

• waiters
• bartenders
• taxicab drivers
• shoe shiners
• hotel porters
• valet parking attendants
• hairdressers
• hotel maids
• barbers
• pizza deliverymen
• curbside luggage handlers at airports
• ski instructors (sometimes)

Gratuity is generally 15-20%. As a rule, owners are never tipped.

In Sweden, a tip of the lowest denomination may be given as a sign of approval to a waiter who has given exceptionally good service, but never anything else. In Finland tipping is also practically unheard of except when a customer wants to show appreciation for exceptionally good service.

In Australia, tipping is not common and almost all service providers will never expect a tip. Employers (usually!) pay a sufficient wage and do not expect employees to supplement their income with tips. However, as in Sweden, in some establishments in larger cities such as Sydney or Melbourne it is possible to give a tip for good to exceptional service. It is entirely optional and a personal choice.

Etymology

A popular etymology for tip states it is an acronym that stands for "to insure promptness". This is likely false, as you would supposedly be ensuring quick service, not insuring it, even though tips are usually given at the end of said service. The Oxford English Dictionary states that it is derived from the English thieves' slang word tip, meaning "to pass from one to another". The notion of a stock tip or racing tip is from the same slang.

External Links

• The Straight Dope: What is the origin of tipping? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_333.html)
• Straight Dope Staff Report: Should a restaurant tip be based on the check before or after tax? (http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtiplesstax.html)