1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Hey, there, can I give an ice lavender macha latte 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: with almond milk and light ice. Oh, and I'll take 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: that carrot muffin too. 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 2: For sure. That'll be eleven seventy eight. And you can 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: just tap your card to your phone right there, and 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 2: then once it's gone through, it'll ask if you want 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: to leave a tip. 8 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: Oh right, okay. This is a very common scene these days. 9 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: You find yourself patronizing a place like a coffee shop, 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: where you walked up to a counter, ordered and waited 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: at the counter for something you purchased to be ready 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: for your consumption. But in the not so distant past, 13 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: this wasn't a transaction on which we normally tipped. And 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: now it's not just coffee shops asking for your choice 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: of ten, fifteen, or twenty percent. It's the salad bar 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: across from the office, the dry cleaners down the block, 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: and even the local grocery store now has a tip 18 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: jar at the checkout. According to data from Pew Research Center, 19 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: seventy two percent of adults say tipping is expected in 20 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: more places today than compared to five years ago. But 21 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: the same survey also reveals that people are hella confused 22 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: about which services and products they should be tipping on. 23 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: Only thirty four percent of Americans feel very confident in 24 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,199 Speaker 1: knowing which goods or services to tip for and how much. 25 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: Tipflation is a term many economists have started using to 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: describe the rising pressure for tips in newer spaces. But 27 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: how important is tipping to our economy? Should the consumer 28 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: be responsible for ensuring a living wage to service workers? 29 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: Or is there more to the picture than we're seeing? 30 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: And can someone please explain to me how much I 31 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: should be tipping for my mancho latte with almond milk. 32 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: Start taking notes because this. 33 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: Is grown stuff. 34 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: Hey, Hey, my tip weary friends, Welcome to another exciting 35 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: episode of grown Up Stuff how To Adults, the podcast 36 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: dedicated to help you learn grow up lessons like how 37 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: to calculate the tip on your dinner bill and figuring 38 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: out how much to tip your barista on a single 39 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: cup of coffee. I'm Mollie and as always I am 40 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: joined by a man who needs no introduction and always 41 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: tips twenty percent. Matt Heillo. Now. A few days ago, 42 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: Matt I sent you a link to a Pew Research 43 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: Center quiz. It's titled do you tip more or less often? 44 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: Than the average American. Tell me what some of your 45 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: results are. I'm going to share some of mine. 46 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: My response is were I don't think we're all that 47 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: interesting because I typically tip, But seeing where most people 48 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: are tipping, so like eating at a restaurant where there 49 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 2: are servers, obviously getting a haircut, I was happy to 50 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 2: see because who doesn't enjoy catching up with their barber. 51 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: This is what was interesting though to me, it seems 52 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 2: like a lot of people are not tipping at the 53 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 2: coffee house. 54 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: That's the area that confuses me the most. In this situation. 55 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: The question is are you always tipping off and tipping, 56 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: sometimes tipping, rarely tipping, or never tipping? And buying a 57 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: coffee or other beverage at a coffee shop. Twelve percent 58 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: said they always tip, another twelve percent said they often tip, 59 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: twenty seven the majority said they sometimes tip, twenty three 60 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: percent said they rarely tip, and twenty five percent said 61 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: never tip. I fell squarely in that twenty seven percent 62 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: because it's a quick interaction. I'm not sitting down and 63 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: being served consistently over a period of time, and I 64 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: just don't know now. I usually because again I have 65 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: built relationships with the coffee shops that I go to, 66 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: especially in my neighborhood, so I tip those places. But 67 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: if it's like a place that I don't have a 68 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: strong connection to, I don't know that I'll always tip. 69 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: I worked at a coffee bar, and so there definitely 70 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: are different types of coffee. Like if I go to 71 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: a shop and they're just like opening a tap and 72 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: pouring coffee into it and giving it to you in a cup, like, 73 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: that's a different situation. But if you're going to what 74 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: they call like a third wave coffee bar, where they're 75 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: doing all the drinks, all the espressos, the mochas, they're 76 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: whipping up the phone, they're pouring your latte art, I mean, 77 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: that is a really big skill, and you're you're paying 78 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: for a little bit more of a bespoke coffe the 79 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: experience in bespoke surface, and so in that situation, I 80 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 2: would definitely tip. 81 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: Well, Matt, I'm curious, what are some of the questions 82 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: you have about tipping still, Like, what are the biggest 83 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: points of confusion for you? 84 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: You and I were talking about this where it's just 85 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 2: like if there is this big divide between like if 86 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,239 Speaker 2: you're eating a restaurant with their service people are tipping, 87 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: and there's a restaurant withe there's no servers, people aren't tipping. 88 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: Then what we were talking about is kind of like, 89 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: then what are we tipping for? Are we tipping for 90 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: just the fact of someone having bringing walking food out 91 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: of a kitchen and putting it on your table? Like 92 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: is it like are you tipping for like the kindness 93 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 2: or the friendliness of the interaction, or how quickly people are, 94 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: you know, coming out to you, or. 95 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: On the quality of the product. 96 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: It's the quality of the product itself, you know, is 97 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: it situational? So are there any hard and fast rules? 98 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: Was like my biggest question? What about you? I agree? 99 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: And on top of that, I want to add like 100 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: tipping practices during the holiday season, like for people who 101 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: you interact with every day, like I've you know, often 102 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: read about or heard about like tipping your landlord or 103 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: or yeah, what exactly are the rules? And like how 104 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: much should you be tipping during the holidays? But I 105 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: think you and I will get answers to all of 106 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: our tipping questions because if you haven't guessed it yet, 107 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 1: we're talking about tipping today. 108 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: This is accurate and we're going to learn about it 109 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: all from our guest Stacy Vanocksmith. 110 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: Stacey is the author of the book Machiavelli for Women 111 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: and also a long time public radio reporter and audio journalist. 112 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: You may know her from her work with NPR's Planet 113 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 1: Money and from her time as the Global Economics correspondent 114 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: for NPR. 115 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 2: And while she was at NPR, Stacy guest hosted an 116 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: episode of the show Life Kit about tipping culture and practices. Today, 117 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: she is a senior story editor for Bloomberg Audio. 118 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: Stacy Vanicksmith, Welcome to the show. We are so excited 119 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: to have you here. We are going to talk about tipping, 120 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: and I want to start off with a very very 121 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: basic question. How did tipping begin? Where did this all 122 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: come from? 123 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 3: Well, thank you for having me. I'm really excited to 124 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 3: be here. I feel like this is a hard question 125 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 3: to start with because it gets very dark very quickly there. 126 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 3: It started after the Civil War when slavery ended. Okay, 127 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 3: so people who had been enslaved were suddenly on the 128 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 3: job market getting jobs, and I think a lot of 129 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 3: service jobs were suddenly opened up to people who'd been enslaved, 130 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 3: and the pay for these was abysmal. And so this 131 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 3: practice started of people tipping because tipping seemed like sort 132 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: of a middle ground between someone making a living wage 133 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 3: and someone being enslaved essentially. So it's the history of 134 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 3: it is horrific. And you know, if you go to 135 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,119 Speaker 3: other countries, if you travel abroad, a lot of times 136 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 3: a tip is like a couple bucks or you know, 137 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 3: just sort of a like thank you. It's not like 138 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 3: a substantial part of someone's pay. It's only really here 139 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 3: that we do that tipping. It's just a mess. And 140 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 3: I've looked at tipping for a while. I find it 141 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 3: really interesting. It is a huge part of our culture. 142 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 3: I think there are good things about it, for sure, 143 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 3: But I don't think I've ever talked to anyone who 144 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 3: is like this system is awesome, Like no one likes it. Yeah, no, 145 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 3: but it's our system. This is the system we have. 146 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: It's actually interesting to learn that because like, there's something 147 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: to me that is always and I used to work 148 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: in restaurants and stuff, there's something to me is always 149 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: felt inherently wrong about tipping. That like, if people are 150 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 2: like depending on this as part of their cell, then 151 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: you're not paying your staff what they deserve to be paid. 152 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: You know, my wife and I one of our favorite 153 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,559 Speaker 2: restaurants is this Japanese restaurant called Ichran, and they've carried 154 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: over their culture of it being a no tipping establishment, 155 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: and that's part of why we love it so much. 156 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: It just feels like if they're not asking for a tip, 157 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: then they're paying their workers a fair wage and the 158 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,559 Speaker 2: service is still awesome. But that said, tipping doesn't exist 159 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: in many cultures. But are we seeing a shift where 160 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: other places are starting to adopt our system? 161 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 3: I feel like all of us have deep emotions around tipping, 162 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 3: especially lately because money is tight, prices have gone up 163 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: so much. The culture around tipping has changed pretty suddenly 164 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 3: and pretty extremely. But the idea of not tipping, it's 165 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 3: so hard, and you know, people will say like, oh, 166 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 3: you don't have to tip here, and it's like, I don't. 167 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 3: But I actually think the culture around tipping was starting 168 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 3: to change here before the pandemic in the US, because 169 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 3: there was like Danny Meyer and David Chang had like 170 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 3: published op eds in the New York Times saying like 171 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 3: we're not having tipping, and they explained it saying, listen, 172 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 3: this creates a lot of inequity in the kitchen. I 173 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 3: think Danny Meyer was like, my chefs are making less 174 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 3: than the bartender because of tips, and they don't get 175 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: distributed equitably. And I just make sure I pay everybody 176 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 3: a living wage. And so, you know, you'd go to 177 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 3: one of these restaurants kind of like you were saying, Matt, 178 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 3: and there was this feeling of like, Oh, everybody's actually 179 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 3: being taken care of, they are making a living wage. 180 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 3: This isn't on me. Yeah, And I mean, I think 181 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 3: the reason that we find this topic so endlessly fascinating 182 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 3: and interesting is because we know there's something wrong with 183 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 3: the system, and we feel it all the time. I 184 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 3: think that strange feeling you were talking about, Matt, is 185 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 3: like that you're like, something's wrong here. I'm being asked 186 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: to tip as if it's just like a thank you, 187 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 3: but it feels like it's not really a thank you. 188 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 3: You're supplementing someone who's been underpaid. So it's messed up. 189 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it is. 190 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 3: This gets very politicized very fast. People have extremely strong 191 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 3: opinions about tipping. I think one of the reasons that 192 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 3: it's hung around is a lot of like kind of 193 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 3: powerful interest groups around restaurants, Like basically it's a way 194 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 3: for restaurants to post lower prices and to still get 195 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 3: a higher amount of money to employees, like a competitive 196 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 3: pay to employees. And I think when restaurants try to 197 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 3: not do that, which Danny Meyer and David Chang did 198 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 3: before the pandem but they both went back to tipping 199 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 3: during the pandemic. There really people were having so much 200 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 3: trouble finding people to work. And if you're going to 201 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 3: pick a restaurant to work at and it's really competitive 202 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 3: and you have like five job offers, are you going 203 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 3: to go to the place that's like, we're not going 204 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 3: to tip you, We're going to pay you a solid 205 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 3: living wage versus Especially during the pandemic, people were I 206 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 3: think had an increased awareness of essential workers and the 207 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 3: importance of that work and the difficulty of it, and 208 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 3: so the tips were pretty good. It's like, I'm not 209 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 3: gonna not get tips. So I think they went back 210 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 3: to a tipping situation just to be competitive enough to 211 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 3: get the workers they wanted they had to. 212 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: Interesting, Yeah, tipping can be super fraught and complicated. While 213 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: some service workers saw an increase in tips from twenty 214 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: twenty to twenty twenty one, especially food delivery workers and 215 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: workers with a more distant role at quick service and 216 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: full service restaurants. According to a study published in the 217 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: Compensation and Benefits or View, others saw a decrease in tips, 218 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: especially those working in full service restaurants with more face 219 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: to face interactions with customers. But the global pandemic hasn't 220 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: been the only catalyst of change in our tipping practices. Today, 221 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: technology may be the largest driver for tipping. In March 222 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: of twenty fourteen, NPR reported that in some businesses, employees 223 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: saw a fifty percent increase in tips with the introduction 224 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: of new swivel screened payment processing systems like Toast, Clover 225 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: or Square. These new tools also beg the question how 226 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: much of that tip actually gets to the person on 227 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: the other side of the counter. 228 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 3: Now we have like the rise of these tip screens 229 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 3: and the dreaded screen turn and Square owns a lot 230 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 3: of them, and Square takes a cut of the whole transaction. Really, yes, 231 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 3: tip included, So if you tip more, their cut is bigger, 232 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 3: and then the restaurant will choose to you either honor 233 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 3: the whole tip or whatever. 234 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: Wow, Okay, that is very interesting. 235 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, so they have an incentive to have higher tipping numbers. 236 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 3: And then I think for employers, like they want to 237 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 3: keep their workers happy, they need to keep their workers, 238 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 3: and it's just easier for them to not deal with 239 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 3: raising prices and pay their workers maybe less than a 240 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 3: living wage and just be like, well, you can make 241 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 3: it up with the tip. And then there you are 242 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 3: in this awkward situation, just trying to get a coffee, 243 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 3: and all of a sudden, you're like, nine dollars feels 244 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 3: like a lot, but you're looking at this person who's 245 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 3: looking at you, and you're like, I guess twenty five 246 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 3: percent is good, yeah, and you know, and then it 247 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 3: raises all these questions and people get very emotional. During 248 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 3: the pandemic, I think a lot of people wanted to 249 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 3: tip more. They wanted to tip workers more. Is just 250 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 3: like a gesture. 251 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 2: We were all they were essential workers, right, yeah. 252 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 3: We were trying to help each other out. Now things 253 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 3: are a little different, but tipping has just increased. And 254 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 3: also we started tipping people we didn't use to tip before. 255 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 3: During the pandemic, right like, there was a tip jar 256 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 3: and my supermarket, and the tip jar stayed and now 257 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 3: we're all kind of we don't want to be that 258 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 3: person who's like, I'm not leaving a tip. 259 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, you bring up a really good point of like 260 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: what is the reason for tipping, Like are we tipping 261 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: on skill? Are we tipping on general treatment and personality? 262 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 3: Ostensibly we're tipping because we are acknowledging exceptional service or 263 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,439 Speaker 3: good service as like a thanks, you did extra work, 264 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 3: here's extra money. But functionally that is not how the 265 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 3: tips are being used in a lot of cases, and 266 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 3: this is where it gets even more complicated state by 267 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: state and everything. But in a lot of cases like 268 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 3: that money is getting people up to minimum wage. So 269 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 3: in that case, it's not really acknowledging exceptional service as 270 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 3: much as it is like, here is my contribution towards 271 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 3: you making a living wage, and that I think we 272 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 3: recognize both things are going on, and you sort of 273 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 3: feel resentful. It feels like a bait and switch. It's 274 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 3: like this price was presented to me. It's like, Okay, 275 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 3: this coffee is supposed to cost five dollars, but really 276 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 3: the coffee doesn't cost five dollars. Really the coffee costs 277 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 3: eight dollars, and then I can choose to pay five 278 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 3: dollars for it, and I will be taking money away 279 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 3: from this person who is looking at me, who made 280 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 3: my coffee, and like, just tell me it's eight dollars. 281 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 3: I don't know. It puts us off. I think this 282 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 3: is why people get so emotional about tipping. 283 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: Not only do people get emotional about tipping, but there 284 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: also doesn't seem to be one school of thought on 285 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: how to approach tipping. According to data from the Pew 286 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: Research Center, twenty one percent of Americans say that tipping 287 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: is more of a choice, while twenty nine percent say 288 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: it's an obligation and forty nine percent say it. 289 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 2: Depends on the situation. 290 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: Many of us know that tipping is a way to 291 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: help work in the service industry make a living wage, 292 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: but many consumers feel like the burdens shouldn't fall on them, 293 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: and more than seventy two percent of Americans are opposed 294 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: to businesses including automatic service charges or gratuity onto their bill. 295 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 3: People always looking for who to blame, so some people 296 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 3: are like, oh, workers are so entitled, they don't want 297 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 3: to do anything. They expect these huge tips. That's not true. 298 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 3: In a lot of cases, workers are not making anywhere 299 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 3: close to enough to live right or people is like, 300 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 3: it's the business owners. They're underpaying, they're workers, they're exploiting people, 301 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 3: and customers are expected to make up the difference. Well, 302 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 3: that's true, but they are trying to get people to 303 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 3: buy their stuff, and if they price in higher wages, 304 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 3: people aren't going to buy their stuff. So then it's like, well, 305 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 3: it's the customer's faul because they don't want to pay workers. 306 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 3: But we've all seen prices rise faster than our wages, 307 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 3: and our buying power has diminished. Our credit card debt 308 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 3: has gone through the room poof our savings has liked. 309 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 2: What savings resolved? Savings? What's that? 310 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 3: I don't it's so true. So we are all struggling 311 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 3: and basically passing this football of higher prices around and 312 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 3: it converges on tips and like this weird cultural awkwardness 313 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 3: that is the American tipping situation. 314 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: And I want to drill down a little bit onto 315 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: something that you'd brought up earlier, which is like this 316 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 2: concept of a living wage, the concept of a minimum 317 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 2: wage and getting people up to if not minimum, then 318 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 2: a living wage. This is something that I knew about 319 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 2: for a long time, but I had no idea was 320 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 2: actually legal. So, like minimum wage across the country is 321 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 2: seven to twenty five, but I know some people who 322 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 2: make two dollars an hour because they were getting tipped 323 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 2: on top of it. And you know, my first question 324 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: for a long time was like how is that even legal? 325 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 2: But it turns out is it is legal because of 326 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: a thing called a sub minimum wage. Can you talk 327 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 2: to us about what a sub minimum wage is? 328 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 3: So Sylvia Aligretto is an economist. She also worked as 329 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 3: a tipped worker as a waitress and a bartender for years, 330 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 3: so she's very familiar with This is actually what inspired 331 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 3: her work on minimum wage. So, the federal minimum wage 332 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 3: is seven dollars and twenty five cents an hour. States 333 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 3: will often have higher minimum wages, like Washington State their 334 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 3: minimum wage is sixteen dollars an hour. There's also a 335 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 3: federal subminimum wage, which has not changed since like nineteen 336 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 3: ninety three or something. What I know, it's two dollars 337 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 3: and thirteen cents an hour. Oh my god, you can't 338 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 3: pay any work or this. They have to be in 339 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 3: a certain industries, but the rules around it are very vague. 340 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:40,719 Speaker 3: So like a lot of people like if you work 341 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 3: at a car wash or your massage therapist, or work 342 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 3: as a bartender or a server, you are eligible to 343 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 3: get a subminimum wage. Now, a lot of states do 344 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 3: not allow that, like Washington State with its sixteen dollars 345 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 3: minimum wage does not allow for subminimum wages, but a 346 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 3: lot of states do. And so depending on where you live, 347 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 3: the pay and tipping situation is just really different. For 348 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 3: the workers who are serving you your lunch or coffee 349 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 3: two dollars and thirteen cents. It's mind blowing. It's like 350 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 3: what someone would make in the thirties. 351 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 2: And going back to this, it just feels illegal to me, Like, 352 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 2: I just cannot believe that something like that is legal. 353 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 3: Well, here's what is supposed to happen. So, technically speaking, 354 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 3: you can pay someone a sub minimum wage, but if 355 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 3: their tips do not get them up to minimum wage, 356 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 3: the employer's supposed to make up the difference. 357 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: Oh interesting, here's the catch. 358 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 3: So what Sylvia ali Gretto told me, and what she 359 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 3: found in her research was that a lot of times 360 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 3: like this just doesn't happen in practice. Because she used 361 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 3: this example and it sort of rang very true for me. 362 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 3: She's like, you know, let's say it's someone working a 363 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 3: diner shift in the middle of the night. This woman 364 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 3: is desperately trying to get off of overnights, but she's 365 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:58,959 Speaker 3: trying to get in good with her boss. Her tips 366 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 3: fall short. She's supposed to then go to her boss 367 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 3: and say like, hey, I did not make enough money. 368 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 3: You need to supplement my income. But if she's trying 369 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 3: to get in good with the boss, or feels like 370 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 3: that's going to be badly received, or is worried about 371 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 3: losing her job, she may not do that. And Sylvia 372 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,959 Speaker 3: Alagreta was like, I had a bunch of service jobs. 373 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 3: No employer ever once asked me to report my income 374 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 3: to be like did you actually get up to minimum wage? 375 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 3: And probably doesn't happen a lot. 376 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: Well, and there's probably no way for the government, local 377 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: or federal to penalize the employer if that was the case. 378 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: You know that they needed to because the tips aren't 379 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: always reported accurately, either right. 380 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 3: They're in cash or like, you know, the employer can 381 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 3: be like listen, we didn't know. Like it gets really fuzzy, 382 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 3: and I mean, I think Clinton tried really hard to 383 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 3: raise the sub minimum wage, but apparently the Restaurant Association 384 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 3: was like really fought for this and was like, you know, 385 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 3: jobs will be lost if this happens. This is always 386 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 3: the argument around minimum wage, and I don't think it's 387 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 3: a completely false either. Like I don't want to villainize 388 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 3: small business owners because I also think that they're dealing 389 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 3: with a lot, but you end up with people making 390 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 3: two dollars and thirteen cents an hour, and like customers don't. 391 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 2: Know no, Yeah, And this is the thing that always 392 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,880 Speaker 2: makes me like realize that, like, man, I have to tip, 393 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 2: Like I don't really even care if like the service 394 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 2: isn't that bad. It's just like people are making two 395 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: dollars a goddamn hour, yes, Like, and I don't think 396 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 2: anyone knows this really, Like I worked in the industry 397 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 2: and I didn't even really understand the concept of the 398 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 2: subminimum wage. So it's really important for people to know this. 399 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: Well. 400 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 3: It's so hard to know because first of all, like 401 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 3: every state, some states have different sub minimum wages, so 402 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 3: if you happen to travel to a different state, you've 403 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 3: got to look it up. Economic Policy Institute has a 404 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 3: good wage tracker that is free, but it's so confusing, 405 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 3: and you don't know what a particular business is doing either, 406 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 3: Like even if if you know the laws of the state, 407 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 3: you don't know what a business is doing. And like 408 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 3: some employees are sometimes counted a sub minimum wage. That 409 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 3: would surprise you. It's so confusing. If you're a customer, 410 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 3: it's really hard, Like you just do your best. You know, 411 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 3: it's complicated. Tipping, It's complicated. 412 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,719 Speaker 1: Tipping It's complicated. That is the title of this episode, 413 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: Tipping It's complicated. 414 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 3: We are correct to be uncomfortable and upset about tipping. 415 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 3: That is what I would tell everyone. I talked to 416 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 3: a barista for a tipping story I did for NPR, 417 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 3: and he worked in Philly. He's so wonderful. He was 418 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 3: in his thirties and he was like, you know, I 419 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 3: love this job. I love making espresso, Like this is 420 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 3: my career. This is my job. And he's like, people 421 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 3: look at my job like, oh, it's okay if you're underpaid, 422 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 3: because this is a job for like young people or 423 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 3: people who are transitioning, or it's a side hustle. This 424 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,639 Speaker 3: is not someone's whole job. But he's like, it is 425 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 3: my whole job. And he said, now this is crushing. 426 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 3: I have never in this since I talked with him. 427 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 3: He had to do the screen turn and he's like, 428 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 3: it's really awkward. People say all kinds of weird things 429 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 3: like and he's like, I'm a human being, Like it's 430 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 3: really hard when someone's like, well I'm not tipping, or 431 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 3: why is the tip so high? Or whatever? And I said, well, 432 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 3: can you tell if somebody doesn't tip? Can you tell 433 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 3: what buttons people push? Essentially? Yeah, because there's always that 434 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 3: weird thing where the person like turns the screen and 435 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 3: kind of looks away. And I said, well, do you 436 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 3: feel bad if someone doesn't tip or just just kind 437 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 3: of roll off your back. He's like, no, I feel 438 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 3: bad because he's like it's like this person is saying 439 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 3: like I don't care if you make a living wage 440 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 3: or not. 441 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:34,879 Speaker 1: That's so hard. 442 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think that's my other problem with the 443 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 2: whole situation too, because it's like they deserve to have 444 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 2: a living wage. Like if you're working a job and 445 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: you're working a job eight hours a day, like what 446 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 2: gives here with you know, people feeling like they deserve 447 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 2: less than a living wage. It just blows my mind. 448 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, yes, no, that's really that's so true. But I 449 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 3: do also have a lot of sympathy for customers because like, 450 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,640 Speaker 3: we are getting asked to tip a lot. 451 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, it's tip plac. 452 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 3: That's the new term, I mean, and it's kind of 453 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 3: it's true, right, And there's some data from bank greet 454 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 3: that people were starting to tip less because it's just 455 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 3: like at a certain point, you can only afford so much. 456 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 3: So like from an economist's perspective, it's like, well that's 457 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 3: not great either. It's like, okay, well I'm just going 458 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 3: to get a coffee once a week instead of five 459 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 3: days a week or whatever. 460 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 2: It is. 461 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 3: Well, that's really bad for the coffee and the worker 462 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 3: and everybody too. So I think we're all kind of 463 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 3: in a tough situation together, and it's messy. Why is 464 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 3: it so important that we continue to tip our uber eats, 465 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 3: grub hubs, seamless delivery people, and our Uber and Lyft drivers. Right, 466 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 3: A very tiny percentage of people tip their Uber and 467 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 3: Lyft drivers. 468 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 2: Right. 469 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 3: And I was talking with Schubronchu Sing about this. He's 470 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 3: a professor of hotel management and this writing is so true. 471 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:50,719 Speaker 3: He was like, by the time the app asked us 472 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 3: for a tip, our interaction with them is done. It's 473 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 3: not a person standing in front of a screen. And 474 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 3: I think because we do feel so sort of overtaxed 475 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 3: and overtipped and it's like do you want to leave 476 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 3: five dollars? It's like, I don't know. That ride was 477 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 3: more expensive already than I thought it was going to be. 478 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 3: But those workers are often earning like not much. And 479 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 3: this is the same with hotels too. I mean there's 480 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 3: a big socialization cultural issue with this too. Right, we 481 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 3: feel that pressure right with the screen turn or even 482 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 3: at a restaurant when someone leaves a tab. It's like 483 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 3: the personal interaction having to kind of face the person 484 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 3: who is being affected by your tipping decision. I think 485 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,959 Speaker 3: affects our tipping decisions a lot. And if you know 486 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 3: you're never going to see the person again, but it 487 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,200 Speaker 3: doesn't mean that that person isn't the person who needs 488 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 3: your tip. More so, I think it's worth thinking about. 489 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:44,439 Speaker 3: I do not want to pile guilt on anybody or anything, 490 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 3: but I just think an awareness of how little a 491 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 3: lot of people who clean hotels earn, how little a 492 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 3: lot of uber and lip drivers earn, is important to 493 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 3: just keep in mind and like to just try to 494 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 3: give what you can, or to have a strategy in place, 495 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,959 Speaker 3: even if it's not perfect, just to think about it 496 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 3: instead of just like responding to the pressures of the moment, 497 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 3: which I am one hundred percent guilty of. 498 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: I think it's a very adult thing to feel a 499 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: little guilt every now and then and to have it 500 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: move our actions in a better way. 501 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 3: I think that's true. Actually, maybe the adulting lesson here 502 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 3: is that, like you learn how to evolve your relationship 503 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 3: with guilt. That's a big adulting topic. I think we're 504 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 3: here for it. 505 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: Though. 506 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 2: Well, it's interesting because I think this is the first 507 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 2: episode where it's really more like we just need to 508 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 2: understand more about tipping, because again, I think that people 509 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: could maybe come into this going like, God, I just 510 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 2: hate tipping. I'm hoping they're gonna come here tell me 511 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 2: I don't need to do it. And it's interesting that like, 512 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 2: the more we know about it, that we realize how 513 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 2: important it is and how people are unfair. You know, 514 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 2: it's a raw deal for everyone. It feels like a 515 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 2: damned if you do, damned if you don't sort of 516 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: an episode to me, but also like it is important 517 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 2: to know all this stuff Yeah, it's funny because we're 518 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 2: I guess I'm walking away with knowing more but not 519 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 2: really sure about like what the act item is for 520 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 2: people here. 521 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 3: I feel like that's the most adult thing of all, 522 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 3: walking away with the more nuanced understanding of the problem 523 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 3: and no solution. 524 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. 525 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 3: I mean, I think what we're really dealing with here 526 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 3: is inflation, and I know I keep talking about that. 527 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 3: But like food delivery, I think is such a great 528 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 3: example because the food delivery situation is so extreme. It's 529 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 3: like you order a burrito that costs nine dollars and 530 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 3: somehow it's forty dollars. Yeah, after all, a sudden done, 531 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 3: and that is so many fees get piled on there, 532 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 3: like fees for everything, and so the Biden administration has 533 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 3: done a big push on this, pushing back against fees, 534 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 3: like hotels are really guilty of this, like resort fees, airlines, 535 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 3: ticket change fees. Some of the fees are huge. But like, 536 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 3: I think food delivery is one that we can all 537 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: relate to where you're like, what but at this point 538 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 3: you're like, I want the burrito. 539 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 2: I guess I'll pay forty dollars for it. 540 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 3: And then on the top of that would you like 541 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,239 Speaker 3: to tip your driver? You know, the one thing I 542 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 3: can recommend is like to exclude the fees when you tip. 543 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 3: The suggested tip will include all those fees, and you 544 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,439 Speaker 3: shouldn't be tipping on top of fees and taxes. But 545 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,719 Speaker 3: there's a term economists used for all this stuff together, 546 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 3: like higher tips and fees. It's called stealth inflation. And 547 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 3: there's a sort of a school of thought amongst some 548 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 3: economists that inflation is actually higher than we think it 549 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:31,119 Speaker 3: is because of stuff like this. Fees sometimes do get 550 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:35,640 Speaker 3: factored into the inflation index that the government looks at, 551 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 3: but tips don't. So all together, like the prices of 552 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 3: things maybe have risen more than even has been acknowledged. 553 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 3: And I think that's also why it's so upsetting, because 554 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 3: we are starting to realize that, like maybe there's a 555 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,439 Speaker 3: big lifestyle adjustment that has to happen. It's like this 556 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 3: dirty secret in our economy, Like businesses don't want to 557 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 3: acknowledge it. We don't want to acknowledge it. So we're 558 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 3: like charging tons of things on our credit cards, paying 559 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 3: what looks like a pretty reasonable price that ends up 560 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 3: being like much higher than we thought. So I don't know. 561 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 3: I think that's a lot of what's happening. And I 562 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 3: think that's a lot of like why we're upset is 563 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 3: we sort of feel like something's being hidden from us, 564 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 3: which I think it is, and the most vulnerable people 565 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 3: in our economy are the ones often bearing the brunt 566 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 3: of this. We're sort of at the mercy of people's 567 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 3: tips and goodwill and budgets. 568 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,679 Speaker 2: Frankly, I think it's interesting that you brought up tipping 569 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 2: on top of tax and I had never thought about 570 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 2: this until I was at a restaurant with my brother 571 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 2: and he's always been better at math and I and 572 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 2: he's like, you're tipping on top of the tax And 573 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 2: I was like what And he was like, so, basically, 574 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 2: what that means is you're including the tax as a 575 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: portion of the total tip you're paying, which is basically 576 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 2: like thanking a fee with a tip. And I was like, Oh, 577 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 2: that's interesting. I've never really thought about it that way. 578 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: But when you talk about all the services and fee 579 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 2: attacking on top of it, you're also paying a percentage 580 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 2: of those too. So is this something that you you know? 581 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 2: Because Molly and I were debating about this beforehand. 582 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: Like because I am always just like stop nickel and 583 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: diming the people. As we've just discussed, who're earning two 584 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 1: thirteen an hour. 585 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, so is there a hard and fast yeat guidance there? 586 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 3: I mean, I don't think there's hard and fast guidance. 587 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 3: I think Molly has an excellent point. What I would 588 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 3: say to counter that a little bit is if you 589 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 3: were in a position where you were really trying to 590 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 3: figure out what you can afford, and you want to 591 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 3: be a good person and a good customer, but your 592 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 3: budget is really limited, you can just take the core amount, 593 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 3: add the tip onto that, and that is a decent tip, 594 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 3: Like you do not have to feel bad about that tip. 595 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 3: So you can sort of like make some rules for 596 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 3: yourself where you're like, Okay, well I'd love to leave more, 597 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 3: and maybe at some point in the future I can, 598 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 3: but for now I will leave this. It's like, okay, 599 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 3: what's the minimum tip that I leave? Like, Yeah, let's 600 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 3: say the service is terrible, let's say the order's wrong, 601 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 3: everything's bad. The tip now becomes just a function of 602 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 3: you sort of acknowledging and honoring this person's like wage situation, 603 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 3: and so like, what's the amount that you want to 604 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 3: leave in that situation. And then if the service is 605 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 3: amazing and you love the person and they've crafted you 606 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 3: the most beautiful whatever latte art you ever seen, or 607 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 3: you just think they're wonderful and you want to acknowledge that. 608 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 3: I think there's tipping more is never going to be 609 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,719 Speaker 3: a bad thing. But I would also recommend one thing 610 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 3: you can do, especially too if you're pinch just tipping 611 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 3: in cash is always better. 612 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: Oh, which, like I know. 613 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 3: A lot of us don't carry that much cash around now, 614 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 3: but if you want to sort of a fail safe 615 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 3: way to like make sure you're getting money into the 616 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 3: right hands, cash is the best. 617 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. 618 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 3: But also tipping in cash feels weird, and then I 619 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 3: feel like if I do hit the like no tip, 620 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 3: then I feel like I want to be like, but 621 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 3: I tipped in cash. Did you you saw that right? 622 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: Right? 623 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 3: Yes? 624 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: I always feel like I need to like, yes, I 625 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: need to like add that footnote of like it's in cash. 626 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 3: It's like tipping theater, right, You're like waiting until they're 627 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 3: looking so then you can pretend like you're sneaking money 628 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,280 Speaker 3: into the tip jar. But you're like, I just want 629 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 3: you to know I'm tipping you, yeah, or. 630 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 2: Write down like zero and then put like cash in 631 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 2: the the line on the on the receipt. 632 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 3: Oh that's smart. 633 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 1: But the fact that we even have to write cash 634 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 1: is because it's part of the tipping theater. We're like, 635 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: we don't want you to. 636 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 2: I'm writing zero because I like you guys did at there. 637 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 2: I'm like this cash there too. 638 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yes, I don't know what people in other countries 639 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 3: do with the enormous chunk of our brains that we 640 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 3: were spending like doing all these calculations and dealing with 641 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:38,480 Speaker 3: all this like emotional like navigating this like emotional terrain, 642 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 3: Like it's a terrible situation. Tipping is terrible. 643 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 2: Hopefully they're putting it towards solving the climate crisis. 644 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 3: That's what I absolutely, Yes, somewhere on Square there is 645 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 3: a button for saving the planet. 646 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: Coming up on grown up stuff How to Adults. 647 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 3: I had a plumber come and he was like, oh, 648 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 3: can you pay me on Square? And suddenly I was like, 649 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 3: am I supposed to tip my plumber? That is where 650 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 3: things get really tricky. 651 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 1: Will be right back after a quick break and we're 652 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: back with more grown up stuff How to Adults? 653 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 2: So now we want to get down to like what 654 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 2: is like common sense practice around tipping. So what really 655 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 2: are the services and or goods that we really should 656 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 2: be tipping for every single time? 657 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 3: I would say, first of all, look up where you 658 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 3: are and look up what the tipping rules are in 659 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 3: your area. I think that is a big deal. Then 660 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 3: I would say, like anyone who's potentially earning a sub 661 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 3: minimum wage, that is your absolute top priority, because they're 662 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 3: making potentially two dollars and thirteen cents an hour. Other 663 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 3: than that, I mean seven twenty five, which is the 664 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:58,720 Speaker 3: federal minimum wage. Like, that's also not a ton. If 665 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 3: you are in a business that is encouraging you to tip, 666 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,719 Speaker 3: or where the tip is sort of part of the transaction, 667 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 3: often that is a signal that that person is not 668 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 3: really making a minimum wage, that they are potentially counting 669 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 3: on your tip to get up to a living wage. 670 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 3: So it's not just like, oh, there's a tip jar 671 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 3: at the dry cleaner. It's like the tipping is a 672 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 3: big part of the transaction here. I think that's a tell. 673 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 3: After that, I would say, I know it's a lot, 674 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 3: and hotels are a lot, but I would say, like 675 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 3: leaving a tip in a hotel or like uber drivers 676 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 3: often things like that, but you don't have to tip 677 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 3: twenty percent in every case, But just I think leaving 678 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 3: something is important, and if you're really really on a budget, 679 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 3: I think even just leaving what you can is good. 680 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 3: And I would say, like the key thing is knowing 681 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:52,960 Speaker 3: where you are and what the rules are where you are, 682 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 3: and that is a really good baseline. And yeah, I 683 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 3: would say, just like be kind to yourself. This is 684 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 3: a mess, Like it's a mess. That's my major takeaways, 685 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 3: Like this is chaos. 686 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 2: In some of the research that we did, I came 687 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 2: across this idea of like are we now tipping at 688 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 2: places where we really shouldn't be? 689 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 3: Oh yeah yeah. I got some very funny comments where 690 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 3: people were like I had a plumber come and he 691 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:20,759 Speaker 3: was like, oh, can you pay me on square? And 692 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:22,680 Speaker 3: suddenly he was like I was like, am I supposed 693 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:27,720 Speaker 3: to tip my plumber? That is where things get really tricky. 694 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 3: And I think the best advice I got was from 695 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:33,759 Speaker 3: Schubronchu Sing and what he said was winn doubt I 696 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 3: tipped ten percent okay, And I was like, okay, Yeah, 697 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 3: it's one of those things where like it's not good, Like, 698 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 3: no one's happy in that situation, but at least, like 699 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 3: the person who you tipped ten percent is not happy. 700 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 3: You were not happy. No one's happy. But I think 701 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:50,000 Speaker 3: it's like it's sort of like a decent feel. I 702 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 3: felt it was like a reasonable and decent way to 703 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:53,440 Speaker 3: deal with a hard situation. 704 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 2: Maybe this is what we're learning is if we can 705 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:57,439 Speaker 2: get to a place where no one is happy, then 706 00:34:57,440 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 2: maybe that's exactly where we should be. 707 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,280 Speaker 1: You are a real adult that everybody's happy. 708 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 2: No, it's happy, everyone's happy. 709 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 3: Yes, exactly. Actually I talked to a man who worked 710 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:11,040 Speaker 3: in the music industry. He would like negotiate deals with 711 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:14,279 Speaker 3: like musicians and labels, and that's what he said. I 712 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 3: was like, oh, giviny negotiating tips And he said, well, 713 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 3: it's usually the sign of a good new negotiation if 714 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 3: no one's happy, And I was like, okay. He's like, 715 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 3: if someone's like thrilled, usually that means that somebody got screwed. 716 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:29,799 Speaker 3: And if nobody's thrilled, that's usually a sign of like, 717 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 3: then everybody got a little screwed. And maybe that's the 718 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 3: best we can hope for in this world. 719 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 1: That's true that's something. Pe Research Center said that fifty 720 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 1: seven percent of Americans say they tiped fifteen percent or 721 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: less at a sit down restaurant. As we kind of 722 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, I always do twenty on top of all 723 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:54,279 Speaker 1: the taxes fees. Yeah, is this above and beyond? Like 724 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: what is again? Is this a regional thing we talked 725 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:58,520 Speaker 1: a little bit before, like where some people are like, 726 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: or is twenty the new fifth? And we should all 727 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 1: be at a sit down restaurant scenario, we should all 728 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 1: be assuming twenty percent, whether that's if you choose to 729 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 1: do it on top of the fees or if you 730 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: decided to do it, you know, before all the taxes 731 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 1: and fees. 732 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 3: I would say the very minimum should be fifteen percent. 733 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,440 Speaker 3: I mean, I think just based on the world we 734 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:20,520 Speaker 3: live in now, I think if twenty still is a 735 00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 3: good tip, and then above that is like a great 736 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:26,359 Speaker 3: tip and a sit down restaurant, like I really would say, 737 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 3: I mean, if the person throws water in your face, 738 00:36:30,719 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 3: tip ten percent. 739 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 2: And this also the thing brings up something that you 740 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:38,120 Speaker 2: had mentioned in your NPR article that like the people 741 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:40,839 Speaker 2: should feel empowered to hit custom tip and to leave 742 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 2: fifteen or twenty if that's what they want to do. 743 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,400 Speaker 3: Yes, this was something that I sort of started doing. 744 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:48,800 Speaker 3: It was like, okay, you make a rule for yourself, 745 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,279 Speaker 3: and it was like, I will tip twenty percent, So 746 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:53,439 Speaker 3: I think normalize custom tip. 747 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 1: I love that. 748 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:56,759 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I liked that suggestion too because it's sort 749 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 3: of I feel like part of what is upsetting as 750 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:03,960 Speaker 3: a customer is you sort of feel like all this pressure. 751 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:05,279 Speaker 3: It's like one of those things where it's like all 752 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 3: this stuff happens and then you're like outside of the 753 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 3: coffee shop with your coffee and you're like, wait, how 754 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 3: much did I just pay? And you sort of feel like. 755 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,480 Speaker 2: It feels like they're putting this emotional social pressure on 756 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:17,440 Speaker 2: you in the moment, and by putting twenty five is 757 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,920 Speaker 2: the minimum they're getting away with something, Whereas like you 758 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:24,359 Speaker 2: should reclaim that moment and that awkwardness probably no going 759 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:26,360 Speaker 2: into the transaction that you might be faced with that 760 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 2: and go like, hey, like I've decided for myself that 761 00:37:28,719 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 2: I'm going to tip twenty percent, you know, or I've 762 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,080 Speaker 2: decided for myself I'm gonna tip fifty percent, so I'm not 763 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:35,480 Speaker 2: going to feel bad in this social moment to hit 764 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 2: custom tip and leave what I'm comfortable with. 765 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 3: I like that idea, like reclaiming the awkwardness of that moment, 766 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:43,239 Speaker 3: because I do feel like there's this time pressure, there's 767 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:47,840 Speaker 3: this emotional pressure. You're just wantaking coffee, and it's like 768 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:51,960 Speaker 3: it's a lot coming at you all at once, and 769 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 3: you haven't had coffee yet. 770 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:53,879 Speaker 2: Do you know what I mean? 771 00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 3: Like it's just right coming at you. 772 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 1: That's the real crime here, and you haven't had your 773 00:37:59,040 --> 00:37:59,839 Speaker 1: caffeine yet. 774 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 3: All this stuff is converging on the screen. Turn It's 775 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 3: like amazing, we're all still upright and talking. 776 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: You know, Yeah, this is so true. I want to 777 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 1: talk about tipping that we experience kind of in a 778 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 1: different context, which is around the holidays. How much should 779 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:17,760 Speaker 1: we be tipping people who we interact with every day 780 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 1: that we don't tip every day. 781 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:22,319 Speaker 3: It depends, I think, on where you live. Like here 782 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 3: in New York, it's traditional, like if you live in 783 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 3: a building with the doorman, you're supposed to tip the doorman, right, 784 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,320 Speaker 3: And from what I've heard, it's like around ten percent 785 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 3: of your rent or something like that of your monthly rent, 786 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 3: yeah yeah, or like tip your super if your super's 787 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:40,000 Speaker 3: the one you interact with. Like I live at Ability. 788 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:41,560 Speaker 3: It doesn't have a doorman, but I have a super. 789 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:44,719 Speaker 3: So that idea is like you tip your super. And 790 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 3: then like you're postal worker is someone you can think 791 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 3: about tipping too at that time because there obviously that's 792 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:51,920 Speaker 3: like a big time of year, they're working really hard. 793 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:56,200 Speaker 3: So those are the two that come to mind. We're 794 00:38:56,200 --> 00:39:00,400 Speaker 3: not talking about people who are counting on your tip 795 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:02,960 Speaker 3: to get them to minimum wage. I think that's like 796 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 3: an important thing to remember, like that tip is really 797 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:08,600 Speaker 3: a tip. It's like really an acknowledgment of a relationship 798 00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:12,439 Speaker 3: and service to me, that feels like so I would 799 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,400 Speaker 3: say that sounds great. I mean I would say, like, 800 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,880 Speaker 3: find what feels appropriate to you, sort of figure out 801 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:21,440 Speaker 3: what the custom is, figure out like what the range 802 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:26,000 Speaker 3: within the custom is, and find like the point within 803 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 3: that range where you feel comfortable. And also it's like 804 00:39:28,719 --> 00:39:31,000 Speaker 3: depends on what you can afford. And I mean, I 805 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 3: think you just try to do what you can. 806 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 2: But Molly, you will never be a monster for making 807 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:40,279 Speaker 2: someone baked goods and giving them a personal note during 808 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:40,720 Speaker 2: the holiday. 809 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:43,520 Speaker 1: But maybe it's just like no, just give them more cash, 810 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:45,720 Speaker 1: get your shit together, give them more cash. 811 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:48,279 Speaker 2: I think, I think anyone would appreciate that. And I've 812 00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:51,160 Speaker 2: had your baked goods and they're delicious. Oh, thank you. 813 00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:54,000 Speaker 3: This is Brooklyn. You're supposed to be able to pay 814 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:57,279 Speaker 3: for things with baked goods. Yes, we still have a 815 00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 3: little soul in this country. I like to think it's 816 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:01,880 Speaker 3: not all about money. Thank you, Stacy. 817 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:02,799 Speaker 1: That makes you feel better. 818 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:05,080 Speaker 3: It's just an acknowledgement of value. And you could do 819 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:06,240 Speaker 3: that in a number of ways. 820 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:06,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. 821 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:07,960 Speaker 2: I like that. You're right. 822 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:10,560 Speaker 1: You're right now. I don't plan on like just being 823 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:13,200 Speaker 1: like here, Burisa, here's for my coffee today. 824 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:14,400 Speaker 3: Here's one scone. 825 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:17,680 Speaker 2: I begged him all every day. You give me a scone, 826 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 2: I would give you. 827 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 3: I will give you a scone. Yeah. 828 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:26,799 Speaker 1: Well, Stacy, you are now in a new position. Where 829 00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:29,799 Speaker 1: can they find what the next thing that you're working on? 830 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:32,799 Speaker 3: So I'm at Bloomberg now. I'm working as an editor there, 831 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 3: but I am also filing stories from Marketplace a lot, 832 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:38,640 Speaker 3: so marketplace dot org is probably the best place right now. 833 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:39,919 Speaker 3: It's fine. 834 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:44,000 Speaker 1: My stuff amazing. I will constantly be reading and listening 835 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:46,760 Speaker 1: to all of it, So, all of your work, So thank. 836 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:48,959 Speaker 3: You so much, Thank you and I will be thinking 837 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:49,960 Speaker 3: about your scones. 838 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. 839 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,919 Speaker 1: Listen player cards, right, Stacey, I might mail yourself thinking 840 00:40:54,960 --> 00:40:57,280 Speaker 1: about and scones. 841 00:40:57,640 --> 00:40:58,680 Speaker 2: Sounds like a good deal. 842 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do my best. I do my best, all right, 843 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:06,359 Speaker 3: Thanks you. 844 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:10,360 Speaker 2: Guys, Stacy. 845 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 1: You've got some tea scones coming your way. To show 846 00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:16,359 Speaker 1: my appreciation for this illuminating conversation about tipping. This really 847 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:19,239 Speaker 1: has been a grown up stuff first, because there's not 848 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:23,320 Speaker 1: necessarily a clear path forward on tipping, but I've learned 849 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:26,319 Speaker 1: so much about how and why it started and a 850 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:29,839 Speaker 1: deeper understanding of what it means. Here's what else I'm 851 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:32,960 Speaker 1: taking away from our conversation with Stacy Vanocksmith on tipping. 852 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:36,480 Speaker 1: The practice of tipping in the United States began shortly 853 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:40,560 Speaker 1: after the Civil War. During reconstruction. People who had formerly 854 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 1: been enslaved had limited job options, so many took on 855 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:46,799 Speaker 1: roles in the food and service industry and agreed to 856 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:50,839 Speaker 1: work for tips without a wage. Tipping is a very 857 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:55,040 Speaker 1: complicated ecosystem, and some restauranteurs have tried to get rid 858 00:41:55,040 --> 00:41:57,520 Speaker 1: of tipping and increased the base pay for all of 859 00:41:57,560 --> 00:42:00,320 Speaker 1: their staff, but then they faced the chair lenge of 860 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:02,959 Speaker 1: employees going elsewhere to try to make even more money 861 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: in a role where the pay is far less, but 862 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:08,160 Speaker 1: there is an opportunity to make a lot more with tips. 863 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:12,400 Speaker 1: Those newer digital tools restaurants are now using to process 864 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,760 Speaker 1: payments like square or toasts. You know they're the tablet 865 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:17,920 Speaker 1: screens that turn around to face you and ask you 866 00:42:17,960 --> 00:42:21,080 Speaker 1: how much you want to tip. Well, those companies are 867 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:25,720 Speaker 1: taking a percentage of every transaction total, including the tip. 868 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,920 Speaker 1: So while these have made tipping very easy for consumers, 869 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:33,440 Speaker 1: and in some cases have even increased the average amount 870 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:36,320 Speaker 1: that we tip, cash is still best when it comes 871 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:39,759 Speaker 1: to tipping service workers. The federal minimum wage rate is 872 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:43,520 Speaker 1: seven twenty five. However, if you are a tipped employee, 873 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:47,440 Speaker 1: then your employer is allowed to pay you a subminimum 874 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:50,720 Speaker 1: wage of two dollars and thirteen cents. If the tipped 875 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:54,000 Speaker 1: employee doesn't make enough in tips and that sub minimum 876 00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:58,080 Speaker 1: wage to equal the federal minimum wage, then the employer 877 00:42:58,200 --> 00:43:01,280 Speaker 1: has to make up the difference. That being said, is 878 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:06,040 Speaker 1: unclear how often employees are reporting this and receiving the subsidization, 879 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 1: Nor do we know if employers are frequently checking in 880 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:11,160 Speaker 1: with their workers to make sure they did make enough 881 00:43:11,719 --> 00:43:14,359 Speaker 1: around the holidays, you should probably think about tipping your 882 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:17,560 Speaker 1: super or building staff. But if that's a lot for 883 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:20,720 Speaker 1: you, you can always do a little less and share things 884 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:23,960 Speaker 1: like baked goods and a personalized note to acknowledge the 885 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:27,560 Speaker 1: relationship and show your gratitude for them. If you're really 886 00:43:27,560 --> 00:43:30,440 Speaker 1: struggling to figure out whether or not you should be, tipping, 887 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:33,920 Speaker 1: ten percent is a good baseline to start, and as 888 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 1: Stacy says, the sign of a good negotiation is if 889 00:43:37,640 --> 00:43:42,360 Speaker 1: everyone leaves a little unhappy. Don't be afraid to custom tip. 890 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,840 Speaker 1: There are a lot of fees and taxes added to 891 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:50,960 Speaker 1: bills today, especially food delivery bills. It is completely acceptable 892 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:54,760 Speaker 1: to tip on the subtotal before all of those additional charges. 893 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:59,280 Speaker 1: And finally, sometimes being an adult is just informing yourself 894 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:03,840 Speaker 1: about a topic, developing a more nuanced understanding, and feeling 895 00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:07,840 Speaker 1: even more confused and conflicted on the right approach. Matt, 896 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:12,799 Speaker 1: I never thought i'd say this, but I now think 897 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:16,600 Speaker 1: I would potentially consider tipping on the subtotal rather than 898 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:19,200 Speaker 1: the total. I also feel relieved to hear that Stacy 899 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:22,320 Speaker 1: approves of my holiday tipping practices. But Matt, what stuck 900 00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:24,120 Speaker 1: with you from this episode? 901 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:27,960 Speaker 2: I totally agree with you, and actually I will tip 902 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:30,720 Speaker 2: on the subtotal. But what I will do is carry 903 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:33,080 Speaker 2: cash with me because the thing with me is, like 904 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:35,320 Speaker 2: you know, hearing about all this stuff about sub minimum 905 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:37,560 Speaker 2: wages and how hard people are working in inflation and 906 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:39,960 Speaker 2: people are getting squeeze, I want to make sure that 907 00:44:40,040 --> 00:44:43,000 Speaker 2: my tip is going directly to the person who is 908 00:44:43,040 --> 00:44:46,880 Speaker 2: providing the excellent service. So cash is going to be 909 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:49,160 Speaker 2: flowing back into my pocket very shortly, and I will 910 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:51,480 Speaker 2: make sure that I am tipping at least twenty percent 911 00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:53,560 Speaker 2: in all of the scenarios we covered, but giving that 912 00:44:53,600 --> 00:44:55,440 Speaker 2: cash directly to the person that's helping me. 913 00:44:55,719 --> 00:44:58,759 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, because that sub minimum wage truly. 914 00:44:58,440 --> 00:44:59,840 Speaker 2: Blew my mind, mind blowing. 915 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:03,520 Speaker 1: Tell the good people out there listening, what is next 916 00:45:03,560 --> 00:45:04,840 Speaker 1: on grown up Stuff How to Adult? 917 00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:07,960 Speaker 2: Next episode, we're digging into dog ownership because it turns 918 00:45:07,960 --> 00:45:11,080 Speaker 2: out having a dog is a lot more like having 919 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:11,520 Speaker 2: a kid. 920 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:14,600 Speaker 1: I wanted a dog for so long, Matt, like a 921 00:45:14,640 --> 00:45:17,799 Speaker 1: dog did really just call my own? But I know 922 00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:20,719 Speaker 1: that right now I don't have a life that is 923 00:45:20,760 --> 00:45:21,799 Speaker 1: conducive to. 924 00:45:21,840 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 3: Having a dog. 925 00:45:22,680 --> 00:45:24,759 Speaker 2: Don't yet despair, because we'll find out for sure in 926 00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:27,160 Speaker 2: two weeks on the next episode of Grown Up Stuff, 927 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:28,160 Speaker 2: How to Adult Ed. 928 00:45:28,200 --> 00:45:30,640 Speaker 1: Remember you might not be graded in life, but it 929 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:32,080 Speaker 1: never hurts to do your homework. 930 00:45:32,760 --> 00:45:35,759 Speaker 2: This is a production from Ruby Studio from iHeartMedia. Our 931 00:45:35,840 --> 00:45:37,520 Speaker 2: executive producers are Molly. 932 00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:41,440 Speaker 1: Soshia and Matt still O. This episode was engineered by Matt. 933 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:44,240 Speaker 2: Still Ow and written by Molly Soosha. 934 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:47,959 Speaker 1: This episode was edited by Sierra Spreen. 935 00:45:48,080 --> 00:45:51,600 Speaker 2: And special thanks to our teammates at Ruby Studio, including 936 00:45:51,640 --> 00:45:55,919 Speaker 2: Ethan Fixel, Rachel Swan Krasnoff, Amber Smith, Deborah Garrett, and 937 00:45:55,920 --> 00:46:00,760 Speaker 2: Andy Kelly. Four