tipping

Service fees are about to go big time in Washington, D.C.

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 26, 2023

A new survey shows 70% of local restaurants intend to use surcharges to counter the loss of the tip credit. About 150 places have already taken the plunge.

Consumer Trends

As tipping spreads, restaurants risk ticking off customers

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 21, 2023

The pandemic and its aftermath have upended tipping etiquette in America, leaving consumers frustrated and confused even as many pony up for the extra charges.

Premium

Workforce

‘Erratic’ best describes restaurant tipping for servers post-pandemic

By Patricia Cobe on Mar. 21, 2023

Inflation, guest expectations and a customer’s mood all play into how generous or stingy a tip will be. Good service may have nothing—or a lot—to do with it.

Financing

Why tipping is so important to restaurant employees

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 21, 2023

A Deeper Dive: This week’s podcast focuses on tipping from the view of the restaurant employee, and why they like them at both full-service and limited-service restaurants.

Premium

Workforce

The tip credit could become a victim of new political realities

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 21, 2023

Organized labor is pushing to end it. But there’s less than a consensus among other parties. Still, supporters of the credit are bracing for more battles.

Premium

Operations

As customers tire of tipping for fast food, workers understand—but embrace—the awkwardness

By Reyna Estrada on Mar. 21, 2023

The days of the tip jar are mostly in the past. But are POS tip prompts hurting more than helping? Fast-food employees give their perspective.

Premium

Topics

Thinking of starting a tip pool? Read this first

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 21, 2023

The regulations have actually been simplified at the federal level. But they remain sufficiently complicated to require some navigating.

Premium

Financing

Why the 2021 restaurant buying spree may come back to haunt some operators

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 16, 2023

The Bottom Line: Franchisees in particular jumped at the chance to scoop up restaurants in 2021, often paying sky-high multiples in the process. And then inflation hit.

Workforce