For years, tipping was seen as a way to reward good service. But for many young Canadians, it has morphed into a frustrating obligation that seems to follow them everywhere — from coffee shops to checkout counters at berry farms.
Edmonton university student Ren Alva, 22, says he has no issue rewarding service workers fairly. Yet during a recent visit to a U-pick berry farm, he was shocked when asked to leave a tip after doing all the work himself. “We did the picking ourselves,” he said. “I don’t know who the money’s going to.”
Jacob Burris, a 24-year-old from Saint John, N.B., feels much the same. He tips only at sit-down restaurants and bases the amount on service quality. “Tips should not be given for someone simply doing their job,” he explained.
Their frustrations reflect a growing sentiment among Canadian youth. A recent H&R Block Canada survey of nearly 1,800 people found tipping culture is widely viewed as excessive, particularly by those aged 18 to 34. With rising living costs, many feel that tip prompts — now appearing everywhere from corner stores to physiotherapy clinics — are less about gratitude and more about pressure.
Tax expert Yannick Lemay of H&R Block noted that even reluctant customers often end up tipping out of obligation. “Even though they might not feel comfortable, they still do it,” he said.
For Toronto student Aditi Roy, the guilt is real. “It’s ridiculous to have to tip up to 20 per cent,” she said, adding that skipping the option leaves her feeling terrible. Having grown up in China and Hong Kong, where tipping is rare and replaced by a small service fee, Roy argues Canada should move away from the model entirely. “Pay these people what they deserve, so they don’t have to scour for tips,” she said.
Still, not everyone is ready to ditch tipping. Recent graduate Milly Squires, who worked six years as a waitress, insists she tips generously — sometimes 25 per cent — because servers often share tips with hosts, kitchen staff, and bussers. Without tips, she said, servers can end up losing money through mandatory tip-outs.
Fast-food giants like McDonald’s, however, maintain that tipping isn’t part of their culture, stressing teamwork over individual reward.
Burris suggests adopting the European system, where service charges are built into the bill. Roy agrees but believes the real solution lies in wage reform. “Wages aren’t going any higher, but the price of living is. It makes it this really bad economic mess,” she said.
For now, Canadian youth are caught between rising expenses, ingrained customs, and a growing sense that tipping culture has spun out of control.