An Indian YouTuber criticized for asking for the remaining balance of the bill in the US

An Indian influencer and YouTuber Ishan Sharma, during his recent US trip, slammed the country’s tipping system. His post has been all over the internet, igniting an argument that led to two opinions, some criticizing and others agreeing.

Sharma currently on his United States tour, said on his x post a restaurant in New York denied returning his remaining balance as his total bill was $45 and he paid $50 in cash.

When Sharma asked for his $5 balance amount, the waitress replied, “You have to pay the tip,” and walked away after saying that, according to Sharma’s post on X.

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Stunned by this unfamiliar behavior, he posted on his X account, asking, “Tipping is such a scam in New York! Why do I pay extra just because restaurants pay minimum hourly wages?”

Is tipping mandatory?

To understand the controversy behind Sharma’s post, let’s dive into why tipping is important in the US. Tipping culture in the US is vastly different from India. The standard tip should be about 15 to 20 percent of the total bill.

If the customer has not paid the tip, it is considered rude and ill-mannered. It is important to understand the reason behind this culture, as the federal minimum wage is estimated to be $7.25 per hour. However, most of the staff in the service industry do not get paid up to their minimum wage, so the tips received from customers help them to sustain themselves.

Employees who are seen to get the most tips are waitstaff and bartenders. They have their minimum wage up to 2.3 dollars.

If we talk about the Indian tipping system, it is much more relaxed. Tips here are seen as a reward for good services.

Having the proper context about the social situation in America makes it understandable why Sharma’s post is scrutinized. His post got 4.6 lakh views.

While many supported the argument, others criticized it. One X user commented, “You are the reason why the globe is becoming racist against Indians. Stop being so cheap.”

Another user in support said, “I don’t know about America, but shouldn’t tips be given as a way of saying thank you, not as a compulsion?”