When SHOULD you tip? Etiquette expert WILLIAM HANSON reveals the do’s and don’ts

Tipping is a gesture of appreciation for a service provided. Tipping can vary greatly from country to country and even between different cultures within a country. Some people have very strong feelings on the subject, of course.

Generally, one finds that those who object to having to leave something are those who have never worked in the hospitality industry, or who have had to spend five minutes loading an industrial dishwasher.

While some countries get too carried away with percentages, there are some rules and regulations to follow.

A key fact to remember with tipping is that when tipping a bill in any Western country, the amount should be based on a percentage of the actual cost of the service and not additional taxes (such as council taxes).

Here is my guide to tipping today.

HOW MUCH TO TIP

There is no golden rule for this as it varies from country to country. Deferring to the local culture is, as always with good manners, the order of the day.

In the UK the standard is 10 per cent, although, with the advent of credit card machines, this has risen to 12.5 per cent to cover the fees card companies charge providers. But if you pay cash, 10 percent is still acceptable.

Keep in mind that the tip is often already added to the bill (called a service charge), so you don’t need to add anything else.

However, in the United States of America (where it would be much cheaper for consumers if employers actually paid their staff a proper wage to begin with), the tip percentage is much higher. Twenty percent is the norm, although sometimes you can get away with 15 percent.

The check arrives along with a pen for you to do some summing under pressure, which can often be a challenge for the countless. Nothing ruins a nice evening more than math.

Meanwhile, Australian tipping tends to be much more similar to British culture but naturally much more laid back and carefree. There is no formal tipping culture (and possibly almost none) and diners will tip if they are satisfied with the service. Again, 10 percent is the norm.

REFUSE TO TIPS

William says that if you object to tipping in a restaurant, you should be prepared to speak to a manager and explain why you choose to withhold the service charge.

While you can object to paying more for your food or coffee order, you can only choose not to leave a tip if there is valid justification for a problem with what you have been served or experienced.

Good manners mean that you should be prepared to speak to a manager and explain why you choose to withhold the service charge. Keep it objective and remove as much emotion as possible by doing this.

Leaving only the remains of your spare change is the height of rudeness. You’d be better off not tipping at all than using your (hopefully) hardworking waiter to unload your decimal shrapnel.

TIP CHANGE

If you wish to leave the added tip in cash, rather than pay it by credit card, you are perfectly within your rights to tell your server that you would like to tip accordingly.

Currently, some naughty restaurants do not return service charges to their staff. Although if Britain’s Employment Tips Bill gains real lift and becomes law, that will change, and not too soon.

In the UK, until the above comes into force, it is prudent to ask waiters if they receive tips. If they freeze, probably panicking that they can’t be honest with you, then definitely ask to leave cash instead, so you can make sure those who actually served your lunch see the tip and not a soul in a back office.

HOTELS

From porters to valets, tipping is generally appreciated in hotels throughout the Western world, William says.

If you are tipping for an otherwise free service, for example someone hailing you a taxi from a hotel free of charge, or an airport porter helping you with your bags, you may want to offer a cash tip. In fact, it’s a nice thing to do.

From porters to valets, tipping is generally appreciated in hotels throughout the Western world. In many countries, it is customary to pay £1-2 ($1-2/€1-2) per bag.

With that being said, a few words to hotel valets and bellboys around the world. Fewer people are carrying cash these days, and even if they do, having recently landed from a long-haul flight is not a time when they’re thinking about what, if any, currency they have on hand. If your guest doesn’t offer you bills or coins when thanking you for your help, don’t be visibly offended. It’s not personal, it’s circumstantial.

(On a recent trip to Washington DC I told the doorman that I had nothing on hand but would find it later during my stay. He seemed very upset and I hardly bothered, but two days later I saw him in the lobby and handed him a Abraham Lincoln for his troubles and the delay. A smile soon appeared.)

HOTEL CLEANLINESS

If you can, please leave something for the housekeeping department at the end of your stay.

While not as expected as it used to be, it’s more of a custom in the supposed ‘Land of the Free’. Ten pounds ($10/€10) a night is what the rule books say, but anything (as long as it’s not too low to be insulting) is better than nothing.

Keep it to a round number or something that ends in five, use one of the envelopes in the desk drawer, and add a “thank you” message to the front.

Those envelopes can usually help make the process feel more discreet and discreet for both the wait staff and the person giving the tip.

For more etiquette tips from William, visit his Twitter.