Dear readers, Dining in the United States can be a different experience from dining in China in many ways, from cuisine and restaurant décor to the type of utensils used. A more subtle, but very important, difference hides in the amount you pay. In the United States, you should expect to pay an extra amount, in addition to the cost of your food and tax. Paying the extra amount is called “tipping.” Tips are usually expected for services provided by waiters/waitresses, hosts/hostesses and chefs. Another word for tips is “gratuity.” Gratuity is the noun for “grateful,” which means appreciative. Upon walking into a sit-down restaurant, you will likely be served by at least one person throughout your meal. The tips go to the people that serve you directly, or is pooled together and split among all employees at the end of the day. There are several ways you can give a tip. After you ask for the check, the waiter/waitress will bring over the bill. If you pay with a credit/debit card, you will get the receipt and it will have a blank line to write in the tip amount before you sign. Write in the amount of the tip you want to give, and you will be charged that amount on your card, in addition to your meal expenses and tax. If you wish to pay with cash, you can simply include the tip in your payment. If you want to pay for the meal with a credit/debit card and tip with cash, you can do that as well. How much should you tip? Well, the general guideline is 15-20 percent of the cost of your meal. Of course, you can pay more for exceptional service. If you are very disappointed in the service, you can choose to tip less. Sometimes, the gratuity will be included in your check. For example, for large groups, the tip amount may be printed on the bill for you. You should check the bill to make sure. Tips aren’t typically expected at fast-food restaurants. Also, if you are just ordering takeout from a restaurant, tipping is not expected. Tips are an expression of gratitude, but can also be a major source of income for tipped workers. By law, tipped employees only need to be paid US$2.13 per hour by the restaurant. That amount plus the tips must meet the federal minimum wage law. Sincerely, Bingyin Li Bingyin is studying finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University. | 