Other Definitions
tip (dict)
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Tip - For waste disposal areas, see Landfill.
A tip (also known as gratuity) is a small amount of money received by some service sector professionals from persons they serve, in addition to or instead of a formally required payment. These transactions are governed by social custom. There are no standing rules or obligations concerning whether to tip (tip is both a noun and a verb), who to tip or how much. It varies from being considered rude to offer a tip (the other may find it degrading, as if (s)he is a beggar) to being considered very stingy not to give a tip. Also it may be worse to give a very small tip than to give nothing. Some establishments forbid their employees to accept tips. Others pool tips and divide them to include employees who don't have customer contact. In some jurisdictions, tipped workers work for a lower minimum wage from the employer, who must make up any deficiency in tips. Bribery may be disguised as tipping (leading to social customs such as police officers never accepting tips to combat this pattern). Tipping by region In the United States and Canada, these people are likely to expect to be tipped: As a rule, owners are never tipped. Gratuity is generally 15–20%. Many restaurants will automatically add a gratuity of around 18% to the bill for large parties (often defined as 6 or more people)—this is alleged to be because large groups tend to underestimate the amount required for a proportionate tip. If this is done the amount should be clearly indicated on the check as a “gratuity”. In this case no additional tip need be added to the total, and in fact it is not obligatory to pay the suggested “gratuity”. In Sweden, a tip of the lowest denomination may be given as a sign of approval to a waiter who has given exceptionally good service, but never anything else. In Finland tipping is also practically unheard of except when a customer wants to show appreciation for exceptionally good service. In Australia, tipping is not common and almost all service providers will never expect a tip. Employers (usually!) pay a sufficient wage and do not expect employees to supplement their income with tips. However, as in Sweden, in some establishments in larger cities such as Sydney or Melbourne it is possible to give a tip for good to exceptional service. It is entirely optional and a personal choice. Etymology A popular etymology for tip states it is an acronym that stands for “to insure promptness”. This is likely false, as you would supposedly be ensuring quick service, not insuring it, even though tips are usually given at the end of said service. The Oxford English Dictionary states that it is derived from the English thieves' slang word tip, meaning “to pass from one to another”. The notion of a stock tip or racing tip is from the same slang. External links
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