Tipping is supposed to be subjective, but it can quickly turn out to be a subject of serious objection if it isn't done just right.
And that's the thing: according to a new study, Canadians need some tips on tipping. The
BMO/Mosaik MasterCard survey suggests 78 per cent of Canadians tip the standard 15 per cent in restaurants, though it appears Canadians aren't nearly as generous to workers in other service sectors.
In fact, less than 40 per cent of Canadians tip 15 per cent to food delivery workers, taxi drivers, aestheticians or hair stylists. And that's bad news for the ranks of students who join the service sector each year hoping to stack some dough for the financial demands of the school year.
Nancy Marescotti, Director, BMO Mosaik MasterCard, suggests one reason some Canadians don't tip is that they simply hadn't planned for it.
"Tipping does not have to be painful experience if you're prepared for it. A credit card is always handy because it eliminates the problem of not having enough change and it lets you be more discreet about how much you tip," the credit card company employee said. "Tipping is a very personal decision that can be influenced by circumstance, quality of product or service and mood," Marescotti added.
But Canadians just aren't clear on what to dole out for services provided at retail outlets, with the survey showing that 24 per cent of us never leave a tip for most services.
"Patrons are confused when it comes to tipping staff at a spa or a nail bar," said Kristen Gale, owner of 10 Spot Nail Bar in Toronto. "People often tip only five to 10 per cent and sometimes not at all. It really should be a standard 15 per cent, just as it is in the restaurant industry."
Survey Findings
According to the survey, the following industries were among those within which lowest gratuities were offered:
- Pizza and food delivery people receive the worst tips: Forty per cent of Canadians tip food delivery people less than 15 per cent and almost half of those tippers are 25 to 44 year olds. Thirty-eight per cent of Canadians tip 15 per cent, with 18-24 year olds comprising close to half of this group.
- Taxi and limo drivers also suffer from a lack of generosity: Forty percent of Canadians tip their driver less than 15 per cent. Those who most often tip the standard 15 per cent are from two very different age groups: 18-24 year olds and 65 years and older.
- When it comes to manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing, Canadians are not very generous: Only 34 per cent of Canadians are tipping the standard 15 per cent, with 55 to 65 year olds doing most of the tipping. A scant 13 per cent of Canadians are tipping more than 15 per cent and it's generally the 25-34 year olds who are spending the money.
- Hair stylists are often forgotten when it comes to gratuities: Almost one third (30 per cent) of Canadians tip less than 15 per cent. Twelve per cent of Canadians do not leave a tip at all. There is some good news however, with 23 per cent of Canadians tipping more than 15 per cent to their hair dressers.
- Hair salon owners who are also hair stylists are rarely tipped: More than half (54 per cent) of Canadians do not tip salon owners. Only one out of five Canadians will tip a salon owner 15 per cent.