Fifty-five percent of New Yorkers say eliminating tipping and charging higher menu prices to pay employees is a “bad idea,” according to a poll by Quinnipiac University.
The survey found that 56 percent of the residents who voted in yesterday’s elections would be unwilling to pay an extra 20 percent for a meal if it meant eliminating the tip, as opposed to 39 percent of those who said they favored an all-inclusive price.
Overall, no specific political party, gender, borough or age group supports the idea, Quinnipiac’s researchers concluded. The lowest opposition was cited by Manhattan voters; 48 percent said no to the elimination of tipping, versus 41 percent who expressed favor for including servers’ compensation in the price of a meal. Manhattan has been the epicenter of a movement to eliminate tipping, as was underscored by the plan aired Monday by restaurateur Danny Meyer.
New York City voters also favor raising the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 per hour over the next three years, 70 percent to 27 percent, Quinnipiac found in the exit poll.
“Here’s a tip for restaurateurs: Keep the tip. Most New Yorkers like this dining tradition just the way it is. While they don’t want to give up tipping and pay more for waiter/waitress service, New Yorkers are willing to pay more for fast food to help those workers earn more,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll.