The tip amounts offered automatically on payment terminals when the bill is paid by card in more and more businesses are decried by many.
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These percentages displayed on the terminals are also often accompanied by messages, which is akin to intimidation, according to an etiquette specialist, who notes that the practice is spreading.
“Not only are we offered a percentage, but they go so far as to rate us and tell us, alongside the suggestion of a percentage, like the ‘correct’ 15%, the ‘good’ 20% and if we go more “wow”. So not only are we suggesting, but we are on the verge of intimidation,” says Julie Blais Comeau in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
The Association des restaurateurs du Québec explains that this practice has gained ground during the pandemic.
Since many employees were seeing their hours reduced at the time, the addition of the suggestion of a tip percentage helped to support them.
The practice remains in place, however, despite the end of confinement, and is spreading to other businesses where employees are not paid tips.
This last point annoys some consumers interviewed by TVA Nouvelles.
“It’s not always employees who have the salary to tip and we still ask for a tip. […] Sometimes I find it a bit exaggerated, ”says one of them.
The etiquette specialist suggests leaving a tip in cash, rather than a percentage on the terminal, in order to avoid any discomfort when paying.
