The UK’s best and worst tippers revealed
Profession is the biggest influence on tipping, according to new research conducted on behalf of budgeting account provider Thinkmoney, but it isn’t necessarily the biggest earners that leave the biggest tips.
People who work in tip-earning professions, such as bar staff, waiting staff, hair stylists and taxi drivers, are 19% more likely to leave a tip than people who don’t; suggesting those working in the service sector may have a greater appreciation for good customer service. Tip-earners are more likely to give generously when tipping too, with 9% claiming to tip over 20% of the bill, compared to the national average of 2% who tip over 20%.
Age plays a part in attitudes to tipping too, with younger adults less likely to neglect the gratuity. People aged between 25 and 34 are most generous with tipping, with just 12% admitting to not tipping (11% lower than the national average) and 1.6% claiming they typically tip over 30% of the bill. Over-55s are the most likely to leave no tip (30%).
Londoners are the most generous with their tips, with almost half (49%) tipping between 10% and 20%, 7% tipping 20% to 30% and 1.7% giving more than 30%.
While not the biggest tippers, Scottish residents are by far the least likely to exit without leaving any sort of gratuity, with just 13% (10 percentage points lower than the national overage) saying they don’t tip at all.
The North East has the worst tippers, with over a third in the region (35%) saying they don’t tip. However, the region’s tippers can be generous. 2% of those surveyed say they give more than 30%, meaning North East tippers come second only to London and East Anglia for generous tipping.
Tipping Points
David Cameron has made headlines twice because of his tipping habits; the first time for leaving no tip at a café in Tuscany, before returning later on during his holiday and tipping €4.90 on a €5.10 bill. In 2013, the PM made headlines again after leaving a £50 tip on a £45 bill - equivalent to 111% - at a London branch of Pizza Express .
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg - purportedly worth $19bn - made the news in 2012 after leaving no tip at all after dining at a restaurant in Rome.
Etiquette experts Debrett’s encourage discretion when tipping, suggesting that leaving a tip in cash, even when paying by debit card, can help ensure the right person collects the gratuity. They also recommend that when in pubs, offering to buy the bar tender a drink, rather than tipping or leaving change, is the most appropriate course of action.
Ian Williams, spokesperson for thinkmoney, believes even a modest tip is a welcome gesture of appreciation: “Our research suggests there’s a wide range of opinion to tipping in the UK, with plenty happy to admit they’d rather not tip at all. A gesture of thanks needn’t break the bank if tipping is approached sensibly and people only tip what they can genuinely afford. Although service sector employees in the UK are protected by minimum wage laws – unlike in other countries where tips form part of the basic wage – it’s likely that any tip is better than none to the staff serving us.