This week, we talk to national tipping expert, and Cornell University professor, Mike Lynn about the factors that have led many consumers to become frustrated with the seemingly ubiquitous flip-around white pads that are prompting gratuities in more and more places. Do you tip 20% when picking up your own pizza? Do you add a gratuity when buying groceries from a local market? Lynn talks about how the pandemic changed the game for tipping, and how the practice can be a way for businesses to fight inflation as they compete for employees.
about
Michael Lynn is a nationally recognized expert on tipping who has written more than 80 research publications on the topic. His work on tipping has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes as well as by ABC’s 20/20, BET’s Nightly News and NPR.
A former bartender, busboy and waiter, Lynn received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the Ohio State University in 1987 and has taught in the marketing departments of business and hospitality schools since 1988. He is currently the Michael D Johnson and family professor of services marketing at the Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.