Tipping Is Not Only Pretty Much Mandatory in the US, But Is Expected to Be at 15-20%
Adding an additional payment to a meal for the hard work and good service of the staff is not required in several countries, such as Brazil, China, Belgium, and Australia.
In the US, restaurant workers are legally allowed to be paid below minimum wage because tips are expected to make up the gap. According to the US Department of Labor, tipped employees are legally allowed to be given as little as under $5 an hour by their employers.
This contrasts to the fast-food workers in Denmark who make $20 an hour. Even in countries where tipping is standard, it’s polite to only leave about 5-10% as a tip.