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Canadians may need some ‘tips' on tipping. According to a recent BMO Bank of Montreal Mosaik MasterCard survey, 78 per cent of Canadians tip 15 per cent or more in restaurants. However, Canadians are not nearly as generous to workers in other service sectors. In fact, fewer than 40 per cent of Canadians tip 15 per cent or more to food delivery workers, taxi drivers, aestheticians, hair stylists. Salon owners are snubbed entirely by more than 54 per cent of Canadians.
That could be unwelcome news for the ranks of students who join the service sector work force each summer hoping to replenish their bank accounts in preparation for the financial demands of the upcoming school year.
The annual surge of summer jobs is expected to swell Canada's work force significantly between July and August. Most of those jobs will be service-related positions filled by students who count on the generous gratuities of satisfied patrons to boost their summer earnings beyond minimum wage. However, the size of those tips may depend more on where they work rather than how hard they work.
Nancy Marescotti, Director, BMO Mosaik MasterCard, speculates that one reason some Canadians don't tip is that they simply hadn't planned for it. “Tipping does not have to be painful experience if you're prepared for it. A credit card is always handy because it eliminates the problem of not having enough change and it lets you be more discreet about how much you tip,” she said.
“And if you use a credit card with a rewards program, you can even get some of that tip back,” added Ms. Marescotti. “For example, Mosaik MasterCard holders can triple their AIR MILES reward miles with the new Mosaik RewardsPlus program by paying with their credit card at participating restaurants. Adding the tip on the credit card just increases the number of rewards you earn and provides a permanent record of the total cost of the meal which is also useful for bookkeeping and budgeting."
“Tipping is a very personal decision that can be influenced by circumstance, quality of product or service and mood,” said Ms. Marescotti.
"Most of our customers tip 15 per cent or more, whether at brunch, lunch or dinner," said Biana Zorich, owner of popular Toronto restaurant, Bistro & Bakery Thuet. Fran�ois Pellerin, chef-of-the-year and co-owner of Fourquet Fourchette restaurants in Montreal and Chambly, Quebec agreed. "When they dine out, people are prepared to tip based on the quality of their experience; and while 15 per cent seems to be the norm for good service, some definitely go beyond that to demonstrate how much they enjoyed themselves."
Contrary to the tipping norms practiced in the restaurant industry, BMO's survey showed that Canadians are not nearly as certain about who to tip or how much to tip for services provided at retail outlets such as a spa or nail salon. In fact the BMO Mosaik MasterCard Tipping Etiquette survey found that 24 per cent of Canadians never leave a tip for these services.
“Patrons are confused when it comes to tipping staff at a spa or a nail bar,” said Kristen Gale, owner of 10 Spot Nail Bar in Toronto. “People often tip only five to 10 per cent and sometimes not at all. It really should be a standard 15 per cent, just as it is in the restaurant industry.”
The same confusion occurs at hair salons. Canadians, unsure of who to tip or how much, often don't tip at all. For example, 42 per cent of Canadians do not tip an assistant stylist, such as the person who shampoos their hair.
“It is customary to tip the standard 15 per cent to everyone separately,” said Howard Barr, John Frieda Canadian Creative Consultant. “The stylist, the hair assistant and colourist should all receive tips.”
About BMO Bank of Montreal Mosaik MasterCard Mosaik� MasterCard�*, exclusively from BMO Bank of Montreal, allows customers to customize their credit card by choosing the rewards, interest rate plan, and travel features they want. Customers can also change their card features without having to replace the card or apply for a new one.
Unlike other credit cards that offer a limited selection of pre-bundled options, Mosaik MasterCard lets cardholders choose from a variety of individual features such as the AIR MILES�†or CashBack� Reward Program, Travel Protection, Medical Protection, Concierge Service and either a "no fee" or "low rate" interest rate plan. Cardholders can also pick a card design that reflects their individual style.
Mosaik MasterCard is the only credit card that lets you collect AIR MILES reward miles from more than 24 million locations worldwide.
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