Here in WA state, the minimum wage per hour is $15.74 (higher in some areas). Tipping culture says 20%, but that’s generally to support lower paid waitstaff in areas that can pay less than minimum wage by employers. Where/What are you tipping and what kind of service would you expect for a 20% tip?
It’s nice that Washington State and Seattle have laws and ordinances that protect basic rights of workers, but in most places that does not exist in the US. In many places it’s $2.13 an hour which is supposed to be made up by tips to be at least $7.25 an hour.
In theory this is to be made up by the employer if tips dont reach $7.25 but in many right to work states making a fuss about that could land you unemployed. And even if that isn’t an actual possibility, the fear of it keeps most quiet.
That’s ignoring the outright insanity of saying $7.25 is remotely enough to get by anywhere in the US without forgoing food, safety, health, or the many things required to hold down a job (address, transportation, internet, phone).
I tip when I go out because I can and I don’t know the employees situation. If I feel like I can’t, I don’t go out, get my hair cut, or get a taxi. I wish we didn’t have this backwards racist system but I mean (look at us).
Obviously the iPad asks you to tip at silly times, like at the merch booth at a concert, this is a minor inconvenience, just hit no thanks and be ok
Edit: my succinct answer is, I tip when I feel like I am financially able and it’s one of those situations I have always tipped in
True, but it’s the employer’s responsibility to compensate their staff, not the customer’s. If everyone is getting tips, then they’re worthless since they’ll have to pay 20% more for everything when they spend those tips. Tipping lets employers pretend a job is well compensated when really they’re paying the absolute minimum. It needs to change. Customers shouldn’t be guilted into worrying about the livelihood of the cashier when they just want a bottle of water from the gas station.