A growing number of restaurants in World Cup host cities are adding 20% automatic gratuities to bills this summer, a shift designed to protect servers from the cultural disconnect faced by international visitors unaccustomed to American tipping norms.
The move highlights a fundamental difference in how labor is compensated globally. Tipping is not customary in many countries, making the US practice—where workers can be paid as little as $2.13 an hour before gratuities—uniquely opaque to foreign visitors.
Teneshia Murray Butler, owner of the Atlanta-based chain T's Brunch Bar, told Axios she raised her automatic gratuity from 18% to 20% for the World Cup. “My servers are everything,” she said, explaining the increase shows staff she prioritizes their earnings.
The policy carries a complicated historical weight. Tipping originated in feudal Europe but was adopted in the US after enslavement ended as a method to keep Black workers from earning full wages, a legacy that remains embedded in the country's service economy.
Critics argue automatic gratuities may confuse customers who expect the choice to determine a tip themselves, potentially creating friction with the very visitors the hospitality industry hopes to impress.