One in five people admit they didn’t tip after a meal out in the last 12 months, with many citing financial struggles or simply forgetting. A new survey by consumer group Which? found tipping habits across industries remain divided, with many service workers missing out on gratuity altogether.
Reena Sewraz, retail editor at Which?, said: “Our survey reveals widespread differences in tipping etiquette, with workers in some sectors unlikely to see a tip at all.” The survey of over 2,100 UK adults found that nearly half (46%) of respondents said they hadn’t tipped food delivery drivers in the past year, and one-third (34%) admitted to never tipping taxi or Uber drivers.
Those working in essential services were the least likely to benefit from tips. Three-quarters of people (75%) reported they never tipped their bin collectors, while 73% said they didn’t tip postal workers. Over half (52%) said they didn’t tip their cleaner.
Among those who didn’t tip, 22% said it simply didn’t occur to them, 14% blamed financial constraints, and 11% said they didn’t have cash on hand. Meanwhile, 15% said tipping wasn’t part of their cultural or personal customs.
In contrast, 28% of people said they tip restaurant workers every time, and a further 23% tip most of the time. However, one in five (21%) admitted never tipping after a meal.
More than a quarter (28%) of people said they tipped their hairdresser every time, while 26% tipped their barber on each visit. However, 38% admitted they had not tipped their hairdresser or barber in the last 12 months.
Many who tip said they do so out of politeness or obligation. A quarter of respondents (26%) admitted to leaving a tip despite receiving poor service. Of those, 39% said they tipped because they felt it was expected, while 25% said they would have felt embarrassed not to.
Cash remained the preferred method, with 70% of those tipping in restaurants and 80% of those tipping for a haircut choosing this payment method.
Ms Sewraz added: “You should never feel obligated to leave a tip, but if you wish to, tipping in cash can ensure it gets into the pocket of the person who served you, if that’s what you want, rather than ending up in a pool.
“In some cases, small gifts like chocolate could also be a welcome alternative and a nice way to thank your postie or bin collector at the end of the year.”
