So the other day someone (well, a bunch of people) asked me for my opinion on the tipping debate. And I promised to put something down. But I was waiting for the hubbub to die down so that I could think clearly, so here goes:
The debate on tipping revolves round various elements: is tipping a good thing? Is withholding a tip a sign of meanness? What is the ideal size of tip? Are Africans, or specifically black people, terrible tippers? Does that then justify their less than optimal treatment, especially in hotels and restaurants?
Take these one by one. But first, a history lesson (this is my page - you know there’ll always be one). Tipping, while originating in Europe, is now largely a North American (the US and Canada - I’m not sure about Mexico) phenomenon. If you’ve ever travelled to and had a meal in these countries, you will be shocked when expected to leave a minimum 18% tip. Yup - have a meal for 500 bob, and you’re expected (in actual fact, required) to add almost a hundred bob on top.
The arguments for tipping in Kenya are legion, and predictable. Tip to appreciate good service. Tip because restaurant workers are so lowly paid as to require this as supplementary income. Tip because the waiter (or waitress; or if you’re Seffriken - waitron) is so nice that you would be churlish to not give something in appreciation. Tip because you should be the one black person who rescues the reputation of a race.
Before we demolish this, let’s establish that I tip. Sometimes generously, sometimes only with the coins left over in my change. Sometimes I don’t tip, because I have not carried my wallet and am paying via MPesa. Sometimes I’m not in the mood to tip, but I do. Sometimes I’m not in the mood to tip, and I don’t. But, ultimately, this doesn’t remove from my mind that tipping is a destructive, ineffective, outmoded practice. One that we have imported into our service industry, and one which we are using to pummel each other and judge each other’s sense of worth.
One by one. First, that tipping appreciates good service. Combine that with the one that says that when a waitron (let’s just agree to call them that) is nice to you, it takes a heart of stone to not tip. Prima facie, this is true. However, think about it a bit deeper. The waitron is the person you see at the end of a very long chain of service providers that ensure you get the food that you so enjoy. The fact that the waitron has a smile, or puts your plate down with a flourish and is quick to get you more ketchup, may be reasons to reward her. But who is rewarding the guy in the kitchen - whether they are wearing a chef’s toque or are busy peeling potatoes? What about the guy who was in that kitchen at 5 a.m. and is now dusty with flour? Is there a method to ensure that THEY also get a piece of this tip? What if the chef is the most pleasant of people, who prepares your meal lovingly, serves it with a smile and sprinklings of stardust? But the waitron is surly because her shoe is pinching her and she has not sat down in six hours, or because his mother is ill and he hasn’t been able to go and see her in hospital? Because there was no service with a smile, the tip has been withheld.
There’s an even more insidious element to this. It has been proven that we are more likely to tip people who are more beautiful (or even just pleasant-looking), or who touch you on the arm, or smile better. Imagine the sexual harassment potential of this scenario. Waitresses being made to wear more revealing clothes. Hiring on the basis of looks. In Kenya, there is even the danger that we would be tempted to tip people of the same tribe as us, or reduce tips to people whose origin we do not like.
Second, that restaurant workers are lowly paid, and thus our tips make up the difference. Nice argument, but that then is the fault of the establishment. I am already paying for the service - I should not have to directly support your payroll. If restaurants are not paying their staff enough, they should be compelled to pay their staff enough. Inadequate compensation should not be shifted to the customer. There is even the quite credible argument that, by tipping and having the waitrons declare this in their income, you may actually be flagging them to an overzealous tax agency. Also by this logic, there are many categories of workers who are not paid nearly enough for the work they do. Are nurses paid enough for their service? Are teachers in primary school? What about the guys who fill up our cars in petrol stations? None of these are, and they’re all doing a vital job. But I do not see a stampede and a social media campaign to tip them.
What about the final one - that we should then not complain about bad service as black people because we do not tip enough? This is more nonsensical every time it is trotted out. First, discrimination in the good year two thousand and nineteen is illegal. Worse, it is foolish to do so fifty six years after independence. If you receive bad treatment at an establishment (FOR WHICH SERVICE YOU ARE PAYING), call them out. Loudly. Berate the silly waitstaff for their foolishness (standing around ignoring you yet rushing to customers of another race or another social class because they look like they will tip better). Then demand to see the manager. And then make a complaint, in writing. And finally, DO NOT EAT THERE. There is a stupid trend I have seen, where people get horrible treatment in shops, restaurants, hotels and the like. They then not only still spend money, but actually PAY MORE, in order to prove a point. Sorry, those guys are simply laughing at you, and you have left your money behind. You have nothing to prove. Spend your money where you feel valued. Do not accept disdain, mistreatment or racism.
I will admit that there is quite a way to go in this debate - you may be like me, not believe in it but do it anyway. You may resolutely pick up every single coin in your change and walk out stone faced, but risk looking mean. Whatever the case may be, this decision should not be on me, the customer.
(No brands were harmed in the making of this post)
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