“Is service included?” he’ll ask a waiter, rhetorically, already knowing the answer. “It is, yes,” might come the reply. “Well,” says Robin, having already won. “Can I have some?” It seems Americans are now following suit. A recent survey found that nearly 70 percent of customers in the US now have a negative view of leaving a gratuity, while 30 percent think it has got out of control. This is obviously part of a backlash against a culture that started during the pandemic but which has now reached epidemic proportions.
I have been to the US half a dozen times since the end of lockdown restrictions, and I have to say it was a shock to be asked to pay an additional 30 per cent of your bill as a gratuity. And if the interaction with your server is minimal (like in a drive-in for instance), the shock can quite quickly move to anger.
Denne historien er fra January 08, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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Denne historien er fra January 08, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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The era of longevity is almost upon us. But can our minds really keep up?
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