As tipping requests spread from restaurants to fast-food counters, cafes, convenience stores, and even self-serve kiosks, many Montrealers report feeling fatigued and frustrated by the growing pressure.
Yet according to a new report from Lightspeed Commerce, they are still considered the most generous tippers in Canada, with an average tip of 14.5 per cent, ahead of Vancouver at 13.4 per cent and Toronto at 12.3 per cent.
“I find it all really stressful because we don’t tend to tip back at home in Australia. I mean, sometimes you tip, but it’s not expected, and so I find it really awkward to know when to tip and how much,” said one woman CityNews spoke to. “I asked my friend who’s Canadian back home how much to tip, and so he gave me a good tip. He said 15 per cent baseline and then 20 per cent if it’s good.”
Montrealers also rank highest of any major Canadian city in terms of per cent range, with 37 per cent of respondents who say they tip in the 16-20 per cent range.
“I actually tip a lot. I think people work hard. I think there’s some places where maybe we don’t need to tip, and the tip is just there. For me, it’s just when the first tip starts at 18 or 20 per cent, it’s a bit high. But I still like to tip well,” said a Montrealer.
Another Montrealer said, “In the service industry, when someone provides service to you, it’s worthwhile to tip. If someone provides any service to you, you pay for not just the food or just the idea, but you pay for the quality of the service you receive, and I think it’s a wonderful thing to do.”
While many Montrealers say they tend to tip generously, those working in the industry say confusion around tipping laws in the province, which are unique compared to other places in Canada, can sometimes create issues.
“Tipping culture in Quebec, in Montreal, is such that people generally tip when they receive service. Now, the odd thing is, who deserves tips and who is not tip-worthy? That’s the funny thing,” said Morrie Baker, the owner of Burger Bar Crescent.
Leana Schulz, a waitress at Burger Bar Crescent, said, “I think sometimes they think that just because we’re working here and we’re getting paid to be here, that they don’t have to tip us. But I think a lot of people don’t realize that when they do that, we actually end up losing money.”
Those issues can stem from the fact that Quebec is the only province in Canada with a lower minimum wage for employees who regularly receive tips – currently at $13.30 rather than $16.60 per hour – and its strict tip declaration and allocation rules.
“What most people don’t understand about tipping is, is the waitress or the waiter doesn’t get all that money. They tip out the bartender. They tip out the busboy. They tip out the kitchen. And it’s all based on their dollar sales. And it’s all taxable. And in the end, you know, if someone either gets service at a table or picks up a takeout order, that lack of a tip impacts everybody negatively,” said Baker.
Related:
“In Australia, we tip a maximum of 10 per cent, and that would be if it’s a very good service. Because our employment law is that you have to be paid an adequate wage, and you shouldn’t have to live off your tips,” said one woman.
While Canadians rank first globally for staying silent when it comes to poor service, many tell CityNews they won’t hesitate to tip better for good service.
“The service affects it. The service, the food, it’s not the service’s fault, it’s the people cooking it. The service will make me go above 20 per cent,” said one Montrealer.
Another said, “In general, I’d start with 15 per cent if the service is decent, and if it’s better, then usually 20 per cent.”
Schulz added, “I think that everyone should just respect and be kind to their waiters, waitresses, and just make sure that you tip. And if you have feedback for your server, I think it’s better to just communicate that with them.”
The frustration regarding tipping isn’t just felt at home. Reports indicate that many fans who are visiting the FIFA World Cup in Canada and the United States are also feeling that way.
In many locations, food and drink prices have already been increased due to the World Cup — for example, a bottle of water at Seattle Stadium was $6 USD, while a beer was $18 USD — and many businesses accross the border are expecting customers to tip 20 per cent, even for a bottle of water.
In Boston, one restaurant reported that a mandatory 20 per cent tip was going to be included throughout the entire World Cup. This is reportedly due to the fact that many international fans, including the Scots who drank Boston dry, were selecting the no tip option when paying, which has left many restaurants frustrated as well. Other World Cup host cities such as Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Atlanta have reportedly implemented the same measures.
Some fans have taken to social media, calling the move for a mandatory 20 per cent tip “selfish” and have said that companies need to pay their employees properly.
For the vast majority of fans travelling for the World Cup, mainly from European, Asian, and South American countries, tipping is not common, unlike here in Canada or in the U.S.
