A Heated Debate: Should Tipping Be Optional Or Mandatory

When it comes to social etiquette, we all have different definitions and perspectives. What is right to you, might not be right to another person. As simple as the subject “tipping” may sound, it has been the center of many arguments over the years. While some people think it is mandatory to tip, others think that it is optional. Well, my take on this subject slightly glides towards the school of thought of those who agree that tipping is optional. I agree that tipping goes a long way in making people (employees) smile and generating more income to their purses, but it is not mandatory. If you don’t want to do it, then don't.

For me, the issue of whether to tip or not narrows down to my upbringing. I know I talk about my mom almost every time on my blog. Well, today is another opportunity to share another story about her. My mom would often tip employees wherever we went. She did this regularly with cab drivers and bike men. It got to the point where cab drivers would always wait for her after work because they knew she’d tip them. Sometimes, I would get angry when she over-tipped. I'd say something like“If you keep giving them extra money, they’ll keep coming for more and then become entitled.” Despite my everyday preaching, my mom just didn't know when to stop. So, I just let her be and stopped complaining. “You win, Mom! Keep doing you.”

Little did I know that her generous act would come in handy one day. I remember the details like it happened yesterday. I was in my last year of high school. It was the day when I took my UTME exam. In simple words, the UTME exam is a national exam that you take to get into university. Yes, a big deal. My exam was scheduled for 10 am. Unfortunately, it started raining cats and dogs. The rain was so heavy that bike men had to cower under shades. To make things worse, the family car was not available. Luckily, it stopped raining about 30 minutes before my exam. Usually, when it rains, it is difficult to get a bike as everyone would be outside struggling to get one.

Unlike school exams, if you miss the UTME exam, you'd have to re-write it the next year. The thought, “I don’t want to wait an extra year” kept ringing in my head as my mom and I walked under the drizzling rain, looking for a bike. Out of the blue, one of my mom’s bike men whom she had often tipped came and stopped beside us. He gave us a ride to the exam center and waited for me to complete my exam. Who knows what would have happened if he didn't come around? This kind of situation has happened countless times. The power of tipping, maybe?

Whether you tip or not is totally up to you. In my country, no one will come for your head if you don’t tip. However, here’s what I think: if you feel an employee or just anyone who comes to work for you, does extraordinarily well- wows you beyond your expectations, it wouldn't be bad to appreciate them by giving them something extra. You don’t need to do too much, just give them something extra. When you do this, the next time they help you, I'm pretty sure they'll put in their best to give you good results. Now, the issue is that when tipping becomes a tradition for you, employees (or just random people) might become entitled. So, you must know where to draw the line. Don't under-tip. Don't over-tip. Find balance.

Thanks for reading.