Tips
Not just when holidaying abroad but also when visiting a restaurant in Switzerland, many are at a loss when paying their bills: should they leave a tip? And if so, how much?
Even though it has been “service included” since 1974, many people are still unsure about tipping.
What is customary in Switzerland?
There is no obligation to leave a tip in Switzerland. Prices on the menu include the service, that is the wage costs of service staff. Nevertheless, it is still customary to leave a tip when service and food were good.
Even though most restaurants would like to pay their staff more, this is frequently not possible for economic reasons. The legal minimum wage is thus usually paid. Service staff can do with a bit of extra money. And patrons can show their appreciation for the service they received.
How much should one tip?
Reference is often made to the 10 per cent rule in connection with tipping. This is certainly still a good starting point for deciding on the amount. Especially when bills are high, less than 10 per cent is also common.
When paying for a cup of coffee, it is fine to round up to the next Swiss Franc. But leaving the 20 centimes returned by the service staff on the table can be perceived as insulting. The same holds true when handing over a number of small coins after a meal costing several hundred Swiss Francs. It would be better to not tip at all and explain to the service staff what bothered you. Before paying, think about the amount you would like to tip and in what form this should take. You thus avoid putting your foot in it unintentionally.
Restaurants distribute tips in various ways. Tips are frequently pooled together and distributed among all staff – including kitchen and cleaning staff – at the end of a day or a week. Some service staff may have their own purses and keep their tips. This is compensated for by slightly higher wages for the other staff.