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Tipping is almost always a fraught topic among those who work at restaurants and those who eat there. How much to tip — not to mention if tipping should exist at all — has inspired everything from columns to subreddits. Academics, journalists, and restaurant owners have made a case for eliminating tipping for years, but the current state of the restaurant industry complicates that debate even further. Restaurant owners are barely scraping by in many cases, with the loss of a full-capacity restaurant dining room and, for some, hard alcohol and cocktail sales. The dearth of in-person diners has a profound impact on restaurant workers, as well; those who still have jobs are making significantly fewer tips without onsite diners, and some are reporting that people aren’t tipping on takeout orders.
Well, hold up — for years, tipping for takeout was not considered necessary. However, several food writers and industry vets have argued that tipping on takeout right now is crucial: A number of restaurant employees are working because they have to, and are making significantly less while putting their health at risk interacting with the public during a pandemic. Others argue that the need to tip during a pandemic ignores the financial state of the diners, who are also struggling with reduced income and might not dine out otherwise. Not to mention, with people tipping less during the pandemic, some restaurant owners have raised wages to incentivize workers — a goal for those who are interested in abolishing the tipping model.
Some Portland restaurants have side-stepped this issue by adding an automatic 20 percent gratuity on tickets, but many other restaurant workers have to survive on voluntary tips on everything from indoor dining to takeout to delivery. So, Portland diners: Are you tipping right now on takeout orders, or just dine-in? How much do you tip? Answer the questions below to help us gauge the state of tipping in Portland right now. Note: These polls have trouble showing up via Google Amp links, so pop over to our homepage if you’re struggling.
Poll
On average, how much do you tip on meals served at restaurants right now? (Onsite dining, indoors or outdoors)
This poll is closed
-
1%
1 to 10 percent
(33 votes) -
37%
11 to 20 percent
(881 votes) -
53%
21 to 30 percent
(1267 votes) -
7%
31 percent and above
(175 votes) -
0%
I don’t tip
(20 votes)
Poll
On average, how much do you tip on takeout or curbside pickup?
This poll is closed
-
13%
1 to 10 percent
(300 votes) -
50%
11 to 20 percent
(1122 votes) -
27%
21 to 30 percent
(617 votes) -
2%
31 percent and above
(63 votes) -
5%
I don’t tip
(127 votes)
Poll
On average, how much do you tip on delivery orders?
This poll is closed
-
15%
1 to 10 percent
(286 votes) -
51%
11 to 20 percent
(956 votes) -
26%
21 to 30 percent
(501 votes) -
3%
31 percent and above
(59 votes) -
3%
I don’t tip
(61 votes)
Poll
Have your tipping habits changed during the pandemic?
This poll is closed
-
70%
I’m tipping more than I normally do
(1537 votes) -
3%
I’m tipping less than I normally do
(68 votes) -
26%
About the same
(573 votes)
This poll will be open until Sept. 23 at 1:30 p.m.
• Restaurants Are Fucked — Unless They Get a Bailout [E]
• The Case Against Tipping in America [E]
• Gratuity (Still) Not Included [E]
• Why You Should Tip Generously Right Now (Even on Takeout) [F&W]
• With tips down, some restaurants have raised wages for servers. Will it last? [Marketplace]
