Here's Why 9 in 10 Kentuckians Think Tipping Has Gone Too Far

Tipping has long been a staple in American culture, but recently, it has expanded beyond waitstaff, bartenders, and hairdressers. Do you feel gratuity is out of control? If you answered yes, you're not alone according to a new study by the personal finance website WalletHub.

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TIPPING IN AMERICA 101

As prices for services and food continue to rise, so does the expectation of bigger tips. Tips are now expected in almost every corner of daily life. And, it's not just for waiters and waitresses anymore. Tips are expected everywhere we go. Pick up a cup of coffee and see a tip jar on the counter. Work through a cafeteria line only to see a tip line on the receipt. You pay for doggy daycare, and it's expected to pay an extra tip for playtime. One of the most confusing tipping moments comes when you order for pickup through an app, and a 20% tip is suddenly expected. It feels like tipping has gone too far, and often, it seems like we’re being guilted into tipping everyone, no matter the service.

That said, my husband and I are great tippers and want to do the right thing. But I’ll admit, I often feel guilty if I feel I didn't tip enough, but sometimes it's a struggle to understand the rules of gratuity. Are you in the same boat? Don't worry, I've got some "tips" below to help clear up the confusion!

TIPPING ETIQUETTE AND EXPECTATIONS IN AMERICA

In a country already divided on so many issues, tipping has become another point of contention. But do we know all the rules when it comes to tipping? Many people may not realize that the government plays a significant role in the tipping dilemma. Under federal law, employers can pay service workers well below the minimum wage, expecting tips to make the difference. This system burdens consumers and raises questions about fairness.

WHAT SERVICES ARE YOU COMPELLED TO TIP FOR?

With what services do you feel compelled to tip (take the poll and share below)? How much do you normally tip? Do you feel like tipping is out of control in this country?

The survey asked about a variety of topics, such as when people believe they should have to tip, whether they feel pressured to do so, and how they think gratuities should be split.

KEY STATS

* Tipping Point: Nearly 9 in 10 Americans think tipping culture has gotten out of control.

* Passing the Buck: Nearly 3 in 5 Americans think businesses are replacing employee salaries with customer tips.

* Service Fee Ban: 83% of people think automatic service charges should be banned.

* Tax the Tips: More than 1 in 4 Americans think tips should be taxed (as they are now).

* Tip Suggestion Effect: Nearly 3 in 10 Americans tip less when presented with a tip suggestion screen.

* Rate, Don’t Tip: 40% of people believe tipping should be replaced by an instant employee rating system.

TIPPING IN OTHER COUNTRIES

While tipping seems out of control in the U.S., what if I told you that it's rude to tip in some other countries? While here it's standard to tip 20%, in some other countries only 5% is expected and in others nothing at all. Did you know that our government is a big part of the problem? A federal law allows employers to pay their workers well below minimum wage, expecting tips to make up the difference.

Where tipping is expected in the U.S., it isn't like that everywhere else in the world. In Japan, it's considered "rude" to tip as they consider a job well done enough to bring customers back to their establishment. Many other countries are happy with a small 5% or 10% tip. In China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, tipping isn't expected although visitors often do. In Switzerland, they build the tip into the published prices so there's no need to tip. Australia and Belgium are similar in that they have a 10% tip built into their goods and services pricing. You can tip if you want to when visiting Brazil, Denmark, or Estonia, but it's not expected. Many other countries only expect a 5% tip and a 10% tip would be thought of as quite generous.