HOW MUCH DO YOU TIP AND TO WHOM ?

Interesting Topic @GailL1 .
40 or 50 years ago I worked jobs in the service industry and was classified as a 'Tipped Employee'. Back then declaring tips as taxable income was relatively easy because there was an established minimum based on a percentage of Total Sales. S.O.P. was simply to declare something close to the minimum percentage without consistently declaring the exact minimum. A good week was when I could deposit my paycheck plus some of my tips in the bank to pay the bills and keep the rest of my tips as Pocket Money. A better week was when I could add some leftover Pocket Money to the deposit. A slow week was when I was grateful for the Better Weeks.
On the other side of that coin I have, partly because of those experiences, an antipathy for mandatory gratuity. Granted...getting stiffed despite doing a good job and receiving either contrived or no complaints sucks, in my experience it was the exception not the rule. And many of the folks who grumbled the most about their tips really did provide a below average level of service.
Tipping, or Gratuity, is an expression of Gratitude. Something that these days is so intangible that trying to codify it in any detail would just manufacture the kind of murky swamp of grayness where psychopaths thrive.
The article does make a good point about the unscrupulous element that would try to declare all of their income 'Gratuity' to avoid contributing to the community chest. I think that should also the boundary of any formal code regarding the matter. As long as we have to coexist in a competition based, for-profit economic culture that includes a formalized governmental component relying on taxation to perpetuate its operations, claiming 100% of one's income as 'Tax Free Gratuity' should not be allowed.
On the other hand, the link below maps gratuity in the marketplace. It seems to indicate that this is a matter that has an extremely low probability of causing the collapse of civilization. Expressions of gratitude are so intangible and varied that maybe we would be better off if we migrated to a culture, at least for now, that leaves them codified as little as possible. A standard Minimum Wage that applies across the board. No mandatory expression of gratitude, implied or otherwise and only the most basic established boundaries to discourage the less conscientious elements of our collective nature.
Kinda like when Lieutenant Dan got Forrest Gump invested in that 'fruit company' and told him he didn't have to worry about money no more. And Forrest said, "Well that's good. One less thing,".

K.I.S.S. 😉

Countries That Tip 2024 

Great topic, Gail! Tax on tips became law in 1982 [Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA)]. This led to business owners confusing this with Federal Payroll Tax, which they had to match.

Now, however, they are not confused; this act will NOT exclude the Employer from paying federal payroll tax on tips; that is why this will probably not pass. This, as written, is bad legislation; until the Employers are not on the hook for taxes not in their responsibility, this is bad legislation, period.

btw, I was front-line against this tax on tips in 1982 and remain the same.

EDIT: forgot to include I do not order anything I cannot tip at least 20% for, EVER; whether delivery, dining, shopping, ride, never tip less than 20% and actually hope the service is worth higher tip; they are providing service for me and I want to appreciate their time and care.

I think tipping is a way to communicate that you value ( or NEED) the service. YES you can tip the postPERSON-just NOTin cash - must be gift card/ present