Photo Cecilia Cheng

The tip jar at a local business. The jar has a note that says “Thank you!!”

We’ve all been there before. You go to your local Starbucks and order a simple latte, then something pops up on the screen.

Tip: 10%, 15%, 20% or other.

I don’t know about you, but when I see this, I think “What did they do to earn extra money? Aren’t they just doing their job?” You feel like a bad person to hit “no thank you,” but honestly why shouldn’t you? The idea of tipping someone in fast food is pretty new, and personally, I don’t understand it.

According to data from Toast, a restaurant software company, “around 48% of purchases at fast food restaurants, as well as coffee shops, included a tip during the final quarter of 2022.”

Tipping should only be in restaurants where you sit down and a waiter comes and serves your food quickly, is polite and gets your orders right. It’s just common courtesy to tip because this waiter is going out of their way to make sure you have a pleasant experience at the restaurant. A one-minute interaction where you just tell them your order and pay, I think doesn’t deserve extra money. This person is simply doing their job, nothing more. If the pay is unfair or the items are priced too low, that’s a different issue.

The only exception I have to this rule is if you make a very complicated order. For example, if you go to Panera and order a sandwich and take three things off and add two on to it, I will say to tip them. That worker would have to go out of their way to cater to your likes. Other than that, if you just order a French Onion Soup, then there’s no need to feel the pressure to tip because they decided on a fair price for their product and you’re paying it.

This idea of tipping everywhere originated during the pandemic, when everyone needed a little extra cash, according to The New York Times, “for many customers, adding 15 percent or more for a takeout meal or grocery delivery felt like the least they could do to help essential workers.”

I understand this, as everyone was just trying to get by, so if you had money to spare it was kind to tip these hard-working employees. But now, as inflation is increasing it’s getting harder and harder to tip 20% every time you go out for a cup of coffee.

This depends as well though, on what kind of fast food you order. If it’s a small business that you really love, feel free to tip extra to help get these people on their feet and keep their restaurant alive. But if you go to Dunkin, McDonalds or Subway, it’s okay to press “no thank you” and go about your day.

If you enjoy tipping and helping out workers around America, I applaud you. However, I just believe you shouldn’t feel pressured to tip if you don’t have the money to be spending a few extra bucks every time you need a quick meal.