A new Business Insider report confirms what many Americans are already feeling: Tipping fatigue is hitting hard—and customers are starting to push back.
According to a recent survey, nearly 6 in 10 Americans admit they’re tipping less often or at lower rates than before.
This shift isn’t just about being stingy. It’s about being fed up.
Why Are People Tipping Less?
The study reveals several reasons for this growing resistance:
Inflation and higher costs: With food prices, rent, and utilities on the rise, many people simply can’t afford to tip 20% on everything. Tip screens are everywhere: Coffee shops, takeout counters, and self-checkout kiosks are now requesting tips—even when no service is involved. Wage frustration: Many customers believe employers should be paying fair wages, not outsourcing that responsibility to them.
This isn’t a rebellion against workers—it’s a rejection of a broken system that pressures customers while businesses avoid their responsibilities.
The Problem Isn’t the Customer—It’s the Model
Tipping in the U.S. has ballooned into a confusing, guilt-driven experience that:
Shifts the burden of wages onto consumers Encourages employers to underpay workers Creates unpredictable income for service employees
Now, instead of being a gesture of appreciation, tipping feels like a mandatory tax—one that appears everywhere from sandwich shops to Uber rides.
And customers are finally saying enough.
The Business Insider Survey in Context
Here’s what the survey featured in Business Insider found:
Over 56% of respondents said they’ve reduced their tipping habits. Many noted that tip fatigue has made them more conscious and selective. Tipping pressure is turning what used to be a kind act into a chore—or a burden.
This is the tipping point tipping culture created.
What Needs to Change?
We don’t need to “fix” tipping.
We need to replace it—with a system where:
Workers are paid fair, stable wages by their employers Prices reflect actual labor costs, not hidden tip expectations Customers aren’t guilt-tripped into supplementing someone’s paycheck
In other words: Let’s end tipping culture.
Join the Movement
If you’re feeling tipping fatigue, you’re not alone.
If you think it’s wrong to rely on customers to pay restaurant wages, you’re right.
Take the next step:
Support no-tipping businesses that pay fair wages Speak up when asked to tip for non-service tasks Share articles like this and this Business Insider report Visit endtippingculture.org to get involved
Because tipping shouldn’t be a test of your generosity.
It should be a choice—not a substitute for justice.
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