To Tip Or Not To Tip? A Debate on Tipping Culture in Canada

07/12/23 • 42 min

Episode Summary
Tipping culture is a significant part of the restaurant experience — especially in North America. However, tipping isn’t universal — some places charge service fees while others disallow tips entirely. And really, do customers enjoy tipping? Is it an effective and fair wage structure? Let’s find out.

In this intriguing episode of Half Banked, we delve into tipping culture. We also look at the burgeoning trend of tip creep, a controversial phenomenon that's causing ripples in the North American restaurant industry. We interview Marc Cohen, a Montreal-based restaurant owner, and Sam, an Ontario-based server. These two are on the frontlines of the service industry. Their unique perspectives reveal the intricate workings of the tipping culture as they grapple with the rising pressure on patrons to tip.

Tune in for a dive into tipping culture — and find out how both sides, server and restaurant owner, see it.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:
1. Learn how to navigate the rising trend of tip creep and understand its impact on both businesses and consumers
2. Discover unfiltered insights from both the server and business owner's perspective about the increasing pressure to tip.
3. Understand the options aside from tipping culture and how they could reshape the North American hospitality industry.

Resources

Visit the official site of Lawrence, Larry’s, and Boucherie Lawrence.
Follow Marc Cohen on Instagram

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Thanks for tuning in! You can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok or Twitter for more clips and updates or visit our website.

Tune in for a dive into tipping culture — and find out how both sides, server and restaurant owner, see it.

Resources

Visit the official site of Lawrence, Larry’s, and Boucherie Lawrence.
Follow Marc Cohen on Instagram

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Previous Episode

Not Your Traditional House: Van Living and Tiny Homes

The Next Generation of Homebuying Part 3

The dream of homeownership can seem unattainable, especially with the average one-bedroom apartment rental in Canada costing just over $700 a month and 29% of Canadians resigning to renting forever. Fortunately, today's episode focuses on alternative home-buying strategies, which may be the light at the end of the tunnel for many aspiring home buyers. Tiny homes or van living might be a way out of renting for the rest of your life.

On this episode of Half Banked, we interview three guests: Comedian Matt Watson, as well as tiny home builders and experts Roger Allan Gallant and Bianca Metz. All of them have experience in alternative housing. Matt Watson enjoys the freedom of van living and lives a nearly nomadic lifestyle that aligns with his career. Roger and Bianca are experts in the tiny homes field and have built, purchased, and helped others create tiny homes to suit their needs.

Mobile or tiny homes may be a great option if you'd like to break free of renting forever.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

Learn about the freedom and affordability benefits of living in tiny homes.
Discover how the tiny home market may evolve and grow in the coming years.
Understand the demographic trends and factors driving the popularity of tiny homes.

Guests

About Matt Watson
Matt Watson is a comedian making his living out of a van. He takes a relaxed and sincere approach to comedy and has done shows all over the world.
Connect with Matt through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also follow him on YouTube or visit his website for videos and show dates.
About Roger Allan Gallant
Roger Allan Gallant founded EcoEnviroBuilders, which builds environmentally friendly, off-grid, and affordable tiny homes. He's built several homes for families and lived in five different ones himself.
You can connect with Roger through the EcoEnviroBuilders Facebook page.
About Bianca Metz
Bianca Metz founded Giving Tree Tiny Homes, a consulting company that helps Canadians build their own tiny homes.
Connect with Bianca through the Giving Tree website, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Next Episode

The Real Costs Of A Wedding in Canada — and How to Handle Them

How much does the average wedding cost? The answer may be higher than you think — and the costs associated with a wedding can be surprising. You might have already budgeted out your wedding, but having the insights of people who’ve been to and planned weddings for several years is invaluable.

In this engaging episode we delve deep into the world of organizing and budgeting for significant life events, specifically weddings. We are joined by Amanda Cowley, founder, head planner and designer of Amanda Kelly Events. She also happens to be the wedding planner for Cadeem’s wedding. Jaye Simpson is also joining us today. She is a senior underwriter for a leading insurance company based in Toronto and the proud owner of Jaye’s Boutique–a go-to source for custom crafted delights perfect for celebrating life's greatest milestones.

Tune in if you or anyone you know are planning a big event, particularly weddings. And if the average wedding cost seems too high for you, this episode can help you figure out a way to manage your finances better.

Three Reasons to Listen to This Episode

Learn how to effectively manage external pressures and align them with your budget and event vision.
Discover the importance of financial planning in staging successful life events.
Understand how to address surprise costs and ensuring value for money.

Resources

Guests:
About Amanda Cowley

Amanda Cowley is the founder of Amanda Cowley Planning + Design. They do extensive work for couples aiming to have wonderful weddings and celebrations to truly honor that special moment.

Visit her website, or follow her on Instagram.

About Jaye Simpson

Jaye Simpson is an entrepreneur and started her own business, Jaye’s Boutique, which caters to wedding crafts.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Half Banked - To Tip Or Not To Tip? A Debate on Tipping Culture in Canada

Transcript

Mark Cohen: We're a restaurant that's busy sometimes and not busy other times, and the staff have to be there either way. If there's a snowstorm and like, the restaurant's empty, that's not the staff's fault. They shouldn't then not make any money.

We, as the employer, we're the ones that have to sort of take that gamble and make an average wage that will be based on, like, busy days and slow days.

Bethan Moorcroft: I'm Bethan Moorcroft