Tipping -- when, how much?

[mrshourula]

We are trying to figure out the tipping protocol for Finland. Given that in the US tipping is like breathing (you just do it), we're wondering if the following is still the standard for Finland:

Tipping
Tipping has never fitted very comfortably into the Finnish way of life. This may have originally been due to the traditions of a religion which emphasized frugality; today, the rather blunt reason for not tipping is that the price paid includes any unusual instances of service or politeness i.e. the view taken is that "service is included". Tipping does nevertheless exist in Finland, and you can feel safe that while nobody will object to being tipped, very few will mind not being tipped.

As a rule, service is included in restaurant bills. However, an extra service charge is often added to bills which are to be paid by a customers' employers. Those who pay for their own meals and in cash often choose to round the bill up to the nearest convenient figure. This does not require any complicated arithmetic from the customer, as no one cares whether the tip really is 10-15% of the total bill.

Tipping at hotels is fairly rare. If you know that you have caused extra inconvenience for the room cleaner, it would be regarded as an appropriate to leave a tip. Receptionists should be tipped only by long-term guests at the hotel. Like their colleagues across the world, Finnish hotel porters will be glad to be tipped the price of a small beer. It is also OK to leave a few coins on the bar for the bar staff.

Taxi drivers do not expect to get a tip, but customers often pay the nearest rounded up figure to the actual fare. Major credit cards are usually accepted in taxis, and in this case tipping in cash is practical.

If you are the guest of Finnish hosts, you should leave any tipping to their discretion.

[rinso]

When you see the prices here, you'll understand why there is no tipping.

[pres589]

I gave a girl a 3 euro tip on a haircut up in Oulu a year ago because I thought she did an excellent job, and was very nice for playing along with my complete inability to speak Finnish (unless you count a couple swear words as a language skillset) and she looked like I had just handed her a kidney.

She still took it, mind you, but about half way through that bit of the transaction I knew something wasn't at all right. First and last time I tipped during my two week vacation.

[priki]

Tipping is not illegal, so you can tip if you wish, but you don't need to. E.g if you think the service and food in the restaurant has been exceptional, you can leave some tip. Depending on my mood (and financial situationi), I sometimes round the bill up to the nearest round figure, e.g. last week I rounded 33,50€ to 35€. My brother did not round his bill, and either way did not matter to the waitress. Taxi is another place where I sometimes tip, trip from the city center to my home is usually a bit less than 20€, so if I have a 20€ note, I give it and tell the driver to keep the rest. When paying with bank card it is too complicated to round the figure in taxi, so then I do not tip.

With this backround, on my first (and so far last) trip to the US, I was so uncomfortable with tipping. When, to whom and how much. That was awkward.
Years ago, when I was younger and on my very first trip outside Finland (in Germany) I really pissed off a waitress. I thought I'm polite to give the exact amount for my beer, so that she does not need to give me anything back and save her from that extra work, and she started to yell at me. My German hosts tried to explain her that I'm from Finland and not used to tipping, but it did not have an affect on her. I was really ashamed.

In Finland we assume that if an employer hires someone, they also pay a proper salary for him/her. Then they charge the customers enough so that the fee includes the salary costs. If the employer is so poor he cannot pay a decent salary, then he should not hire. If the tip is always expected, it loses the whole idea of rewarding.

[annekmc]

I always tip unless I feel I recieved bad service, and no one has ever acted as though this is not the norm, the better service the better the tip.

[Karhunkoski]

Depending on the location, serving staff may get 8 euro per hour before tax.

Firstly, can I say that I do tip, if the service has been excellent, then I tip well. But at the same time I don't think that someone's low wage is a suitable reason to tip them. If tipping is encouraged just for this reason, it will only encourage more employers to pay crap wages! In Finland income redistribution is the job of the government, who use the progressive tax system to even out wealth inequality, handing out benefits where they are needed.

In summary, blanket tipping of service staff certainly doesn't encourage employers to pay reasonable wages. Also, it certainly doesn't encourage better service as it doesn't differentiate between good service (= tip) v. bad service (= no tip)

[Karhunkoski]

Ah, I just read you bold "8 euro before tax" and your "I know how important tips were to my being able to live week to week." and assumed we should tip to help out the low wages. My mistake, sorry.

[Pursuivant]

My German hosts tried to explain her that I'm from Finland and not used to tipping, but it did not have an affect on her.

and I thought the jerries were supposed to be the tightwads...

[Pursuivant]

We are trying to figure out the tipping protocol for Finland.

thats easy. finns don't, tourists do.... ok so maybe leaving the extra change in the bar or cab but 99% of the time pay with card so thats the money sum right there. restaurant prices have tips included and the only people living on tips are the bouncers and they take the money when you go in...

[Pursuivant]

I do hope more people start tipping in Finland.

to what end? depending on the restaurant and if the waiters are stationed or neot the money left as tips is never seen by that waiter. generally you cannot pocket money and you need to balance your float. the tip money goes to a pool and may be dealt out either weekly or monthly or then used for the staff christmas party or it can be pocketed by the owner as a cash registry discrepancy. so it really depends on the establishment in question... a waiter on tip salary gets an automatic % of the sales, if you read the union regulations its a hairsplitting deal.

[Kupcake]

Double post

[Kupcake]

Personally, i really don't get the whole tipping deal. Aren't people in the service industry expected as part of their job to offer good service? I know it's common in america to tip, but i thought they all tipped there because people are paid such low wages - which in all likelihood encourages employers to continue to pay low wages It's annoying in some countries to find that the price on the menu is not what you have to pay - I hate that!! There seems to be an obligation to pay a tip whether there is exceptional service or regular service.

My feeling is that tipping should be reserved for exceptional service, rather than any service at all. In cases of exceptional service, we offer 10% of the bill.

I've heard some horror stories about certain people chasing others down in the street for their tip please don't let that happen in Finland!

[Pursuivant]

I've heard some horror stories about certain people chasing others down in the street for their tip

here you get chased for forgetting your money on the table

[rob34]

I always tip my hairdresser. It costs 25 and I round to 30.
It's worth it. Always.

Also, in a crowded bar at midnight, you'll be glad you've been tipping a euro per drink since you got there.

[priki]

My German hosts tried to explain her that I'm from Finland and not used to tipping, but it did not have an affect on her.

and I thought the jerries were supposed to be the tightwads...

I'm sorry. As an excuse, I had got my very first job just a month earlier and had never tipped anyone in Finland, as a student I did not have any money to tip (or to eat in restaurants), and tipping for one lousy beer did not even come to my mind..