Growing culture of tipping in India... It's a norm in US, where tips are thought to 'help earn respect'

By Rajiv Shah 

An interesting feature I noticed during my recent visit to restaurants in the United States was the prevalent culture of tipping. While tipping is common in India too, especially in restaurants, hotels, and other service sectors, one rarely finds an open display explicitly welcoming tips. This is quite unlike the United States, where boards or signs encouraging tipping are often prominently displayed.

Take, for instance, airports. In India, those assisting elderly passengers in wheelchairs sometimes request tips discreetly to avoid being caught on CCTV cameras. "The helper asked for a tip when we were in the elevator," a senior citizen traveling with his wife to Singapore from Ahmedabad airport told me. "This is because there are no cameras in the elevator."

In contrast, tipping wheelchair attendants at airports in the United States is completely normal and openly practiced. If you happen to give less than the expected amount, don’t be surprised if the attendant reacts with visible displeasure.

In the U.S., there are no restrictions on tipping. In restaurants, for example, when paying by credit card, you can add the tip amount directly on the bill, and the waiter or waitress will provide a pen for this purpose. And not giving tip is considered a bad habit. While tipping in Indian hotels and restaurants is common, it is generally more discreet and less openly encouraged.

During my recent visit to the U.S., I also had the chance to visit a primary school. It was delightful to see that education is entirely free up to high school, and teachers seemed to employ innovative methods. They encouraged interaction, fostered discussions, and motivated children to express their opinions, agree, or disagree.

However, during a visit to the school library, I noticed a board stating that one could "earn respect" by donating a certain amount to the teacher or librarian.

Be that as it may, the culture of tipping is gradually gaining ground in India too. For instance, when you order food online for lunch or dinner, the app often prompts you to specify how much you would like to tip the delivery person. There was a time when notices explicitly stated that no tips should be given to attendants at petrol pumps air-filling stations attached with petrol pumps and the service is totally free. Such notices are now absent, and attendants readily accept tips openly.