Canadians appear to be tightening their belts when it comes to tipping in places like restaurants.
But Saskatchewan folks are showing the most restraint when it comes to cutting back on gratuities.
In a survey for Actual, a company providing payroll and financial services to the hospitality sector, two-thirds of workers reported tipping has declined in the past two years. The biggest declines were in Ontario – almost 75-per cent – while the smallest were in Saskatchewan, where 50-per cent reported declines.
Half the workers in high-cost jurisdictions like B.C. or Ontario said they rely on tip money to pay for essentials, making any reduction difficult to handle. That figure in Saskatchewan was only 25-per cent, half the level in most parts of the country.
Tips are also a key factor in worker retention. Donald Trump recently introduced provisions to make tips tax-free in the U.S. and, while there is no discussion on that topic here, three-quarters of workers said the fact that they receive tips is a key reason they stay in the hospitality sector at all.
— For more than 50 years, Paul Martin has specialized in coverage of the business and political scenes. His career has spanned radio, television and print and electronic media.
