"When a customer pays, a screen automatically flickers to life with a selection of buttons: each prompting them to add a different percentage of tip to their purchase. People on autopilot often get confused as to why their card isn't tapping, and ask if something is wrong. I feel as awkward as they do as I explain that they need to select an option -- so much so that I sometimes go ahead and press the "skip" option for them."
"The minimum federal cash wage for tipped employees is just $2.13 per hour, much lower than the standard $7.25 per hour. While it might not seem fair that you should feel pressured to bump up their wages or address restaurant inequalities by paying service fees, tipping has been a controversial American custom since the early 1900s. However, research suggests that Americans may finally be done with it."
"The days of being handed a bill and left to calculate a tip at your own discretion are gone. Now, those fancy screens do all the calculating for you - and they've been popping up in many places that aren't restaurants or bars since the pandemic. Employers are also using them as a way to retain workers - it's all been a big bone of contention."
Digital payment screens prompt preset tip percentages, producing moments of confusion and "guilt-tipping" that can pressure customers to add gratuities. Servers sometimes select "skip" to ease customer discomfort. Federal law allows a $2.13 hourly cash wage for tipped employees, far below the $7.25 standard, making tips essential to many workers' income. Tipping has been a contentious American practice since the early 1900s. Survey data indicate Americans averaged $24 per month on guilt-tipping in 2025, down from $37.80 in 2024. Tip prompts have expanded beyond eateries since the pandemic and have sparked online debate.
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