Gratuity: Earning One's Tip!

For those of us who go out to restaurants occasionally or get food delivered via swiggy, zomato, etc., here's my tipping philosophy:

If the server or delivery person is prompt, efficient and polite: I definitely tip.

If not, I definitely do not.

There are places that openly declare that if there are more than a certain number of people in a group, a service charge is levied as part of the bill. This is transparency and I respect it.

But there are also places that have started directly including service charges in the bill for even solo customers - with the legal provision (that they ought to display but don't) that if the service is less than satisfactory the customer has the right to have the service charge removed. I've exercised this right more than once. But that is not good enough. Please allow me to explain:

Firstly, many customers get intimidated by social pressure and keep quiet even in the face of poor service. Secondly, how much to tip is entirely the customer's decision. Percentages such as 10 or 15 % are simply guidelines suggested by the hospitality industry. They cannot be hardwired in billing as a compulsion.

I personally encourage the culture of tipping prompt, efficient and polite service, but at the same time emphasize that earning a tip is NOT a right. Tips are NOT part of salary. Tips are extra personal earnings that must be deserved, and when given, must be accepted gratefully and gracefully.