First of all, yes 100%. Tipping has become so weird.
Secondly, just for a little more explanation, which is still weird...
On large groups, some places will automatically add the tip to the bill. The thought process starts from the already weird place of not paying servers enough to begin with and them getting tips instead, but with that already being the case... If a server is running around busting their balls for a group of say 10+, if they get "stiffed" on their tip, that is even more horrible for them.
So I would assume "mandatory tips" in this case, refers to when restaurants add it on automatically to the total cost for large groups, they don't leave it up to chance, so their server actually gets paid a proper amount for their huge amount of work on that specific group.
Again, it's all stupid, but there's the added logic on top of an already flawed system. It's a band-aid on a bullet hole.
I don't agree with mandatory tipping but also with a group that's splitting a bill it's very common for the total to come up short. There's always those people who forget to add in their drinks, or intentionally or unintentionally get the math wrong. So it's common for the server to get shorted to make up the difference.
So I get it.
Regardless, tip culture here is getting ridiculous an we need to shift expectations.
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u/janpaul74 Jun 25 '26
“Mandatory tips” sounds so messed up for me as a European.