Alyx: You have been looking into tipping for months and recently published your findings. What sparked the interest?
Isabella: I saw a post in a bartenders’ Facebook group asking whether having tips withheld was normal. The replies surprised me. More than 30 comments named venues where staff said they also missed out on tips. It made me wonder why nothing had changed if this was so widespread.
Alyx: What did you uncover when you dug deeper?
Isabella: I contacted Fair Work to ask what laws cover distributing tips to staff. They said there are none, so the original poster had not experienced wage theft under current rules. Employers were not breaking any legislation.
It is not only management taking a share. Cashless payment platforms also clip a percentage from transactions that include tips. It feels ironic that the same systems prompting customers to tip, which can nudge their choices, also collect a cut.
Alyx: Tip prompts are popping up everywhere. How are people reacting?
Isabella: Many patrons dislike it. On Reddit, it was one of the rare topics where most commenters agreed. A major reason is the view that tipping is imported from the US, and plenty of Australians do not want to mirror that practice. For workers in roles where tipping is now more common, it is mixed. Tips can be welcome, but questions about how they are split and who actually receives them make it hard to fully support. And some prompts feel out of place, like for a simple beer or after a $600 hair appointment.
Alyx: Did reporting this change your own tipping habits?
Isabella: Honestly, I rarely tip. I do not go out much and when I do, it often feels inappropriate, like adding 5% to a meal I ordered via QR code. If anything, I feel more justified, given tips do not always reach staff. If I do tip, I am more likely to use cash.
The regulars
We can’t stop talking about: Australia tipping culture
Your week ahead
What to watch | Another small-town crime drama might be surplus to needs, but Dustfall, starring Anna Torv, has been praised as socially conscious. It airs Sundays on ABC and streams on iview.
What to read | Patricia Lockwood returns to poetry with Agate Head/Stone Soup, a collection that is sharper than some of her earlier work while still funny, affecting and defiantly odd.
What to play | Sophia Stel’s hazy electro-pop suits both late nights and early mornings. Her new LP, The Greatest Album of All Time, aims high. Meanwhile, Fontaines DC’s Dopamine Chamber drew a five-star review, threading dread-filled themes with striking precision.
What to cook | Cabbage remains a star at high-end spots abroad and is affordable at home. Alice Zaslavsky’s one-pot, unrolled cabbage “rolls” deliver an easy, impressive dinner.
What to book | Paddington the Musical is headed to Sydney next year, with the ticket waitlist now open. Expect serious heart-tugging for fans of the marmalade-loving bear.
Wishlist
Knitwear label Wah Wah’s collaborations with Kaylene Whiskey have kept fashion-forward fans warm for years. A new summer cotton drop is on the way next year, available for preorder now and perfect for gallery nights.
Open tabs
Good Work’s video dive into Bloomberg terminals unpacks the secretive tools that underpin global finance, and how they double as a social hub for middle-aged men. An unexpected antidote to loneliness, perhaps.
Inside your button boxes
Last week we asked for photos of your button collections. Rose sent the image above, and the storage box alone inspires envy.
Here is about half of Sue’s stash. She has always loved buttons, especially older ones. Many were salvaged from clothing or found in op shops. Some are intricate and beautiful.
Tell us: where is the most egregious place you have been asked to tip?
While visiting family in the US this year, I felt constant pressure from tip prompts. Would skipping a tip deny a yoga instructor a living wage? I chose 20%.
Have you been asked to add a tip somewhere unexpected? Share your story by replying to this email or contacting savedforsunday@theguardian.com. You can also test what you remember from the last few days with our news quiz.
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