At their tipping point: As expectations to tip grow, so does its impact for workers – Halifax [Video]

As the cost of living continues to rise, the concept of tipping — and the question of how much to tip — is garnering more attention.

Some are wondering whether tipping in the service industry is considered an expectation or if it’s just good etiquette.

“Everybody is at their tipping point on tipping,” said Julie Blais Comeau, an etiquette expert.

“Having said that, it doesn’t give us permission to stop tipping, it is an expected practice.”

A recent survey of 1,500 Canadians by Lightspeed Commerce Inc. found 67 per cent felt pressure to tip, with 54 per cent saying inflation impacted their ability to do so.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report Wednesday, saying the 2024 “living wage” rate in Halifax is $28.30 — the highest among the three provinces.

The report by the left-leaning research institute defines the “living wage” as the hourly take-home pay — including federal and provincial transfers — that …