Tipping?

Will someone please tell me when I'm supposed to tip and not tip? I was going through a Dunkin Doughnuts drive through one morning and was shocked when I saw a Tip Jar in the window!  I immediately asked myself, “Am I supposed to tip this person for doing their job?” And if I am, maybe I should put a tip jar on my desk at the office!

 
I understand that certain jobs have their pay rates adjusted in anticipation for gratuity and as such I am more than happy to give the 15-20 percent tip for “Good” service. So let’s say that I agree with the tip jar as a way to supplement the disgruntled employees pay, how am I supposed to gauge what’s considered “Good Service”.

Can you imagine if everyone expected to be tipped for doing their job? Where would it end? Do we tip the Toll way attendant? The Bus Driver? How about your local policeman? I know that the argument for those in traditional service industries is that their pay rate is adjusted to take into account gratuity. But should this be the case? Is the hope for a big tip the only way to motivate someone to provide good service? Or for that matter, is mediocre service the standard and the only way to get exceptional service is to dangle money in front of a person or company for that matter?

How about doing your job to the best of your ability! What ever happened to pride in one’s work or providing good service because….It’s the right thing to do…There’s a novel concept!