The Reality Reports

Tipping Almost Everyone: Americans tip service workers between 15 and 20 percent of their bill, which confuses visitors from countries where servers earn full wages. Restaurant workers in the United States often receive minimal hourly pay and depend on tips for their income.  Foreign tourists sometimes accidentally offend servers by leaving small tips or none at all, not realizing this custom extends beyond restaurants to hair stylists, taxi drivers, hotel staff, and delivery people.  Many other countries include service charges in the final price, making the American system seem unnecessarily complicated and putting the responsibility of paying fair wages on customers rather than employers.