If there's a pitfall of our bold new cashless era it's that you can't pay for a coffee at your local cafe without having the dreaded "if you'd like to leave a tip" screen loom up at you, as a staff member hovers. Such interactions are incredibly awkward. Especially for Australians.
In Australia we don't tip. And if we do, it's for excellent service only. And the reason we don't tip is because we respect hospitality workers and believe they should be paid accordingly. Explaining this concept recently to an American friend, I was met with incredulity. But I'm adamant: a culture of expected tips means you're hurting the very people you're intending to help.
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