tipisteinä

Tipisteinä is a Finnish term that broadly refers to individuals who receive tips as part of their income. This concept is most commonly associated with service industry professions where customer gratuity is a customary practice. Examples include waitstaff in restaurants, bartenders, hairdressers, taxi drivers, and delivery personnel.

In Finland, tipping is not as ingrained or expected as in some other countries, particularly the United States. While customers are free to leave a tip if they are satisfied with the service, it is generally considered an optional gesture of appreciation rather than a mandatory supplement to wages. Many service industry workers in Finland receive a regular hourly wage that is not directly dependent on tips.

The amount of a tip, if given, is usually modest. A common practice is to round up the bill to the nearest convenient amount or to leave a small percentage, often around 5-10% for exceptional service. Tipping is less common in fast-food establishments or for quick service transactions.

The legal status of tips in Finland is generally that they are considered part of the employee's income, and employers are responsible for ensuring that taxes are paid on these earnings. Some establishments may have policies regarding the distribution of tips among staff, especially in restaurants where tips are pooled. The culture surrounding tipping in Finland emphasizes good service as the primary reason for a gratuity, rather than it being an automatic expectation.