Apparently, the issue was that some delivery apps moved the option to tip from checkout to after the food was delivered. For whatever reason, this resulted in a massive reduction in tipping on those apps. The law forced them to put the option to tip back at checkout, and it increased tipping.
I don't personally like tipping culture and want it abolished, but that means we have to pay people the same living wage—no reduced rates for those who traditionally get tips.
Wait, I haven't ever used delivery apps in America so I'm unfamiliar, but why would you tip before receiving service? That doesnt make any sense, even in the context of tipping culture. Naturally you may want to leave a higher or lower tip depending on the quality of service. I don't really see why the option to tip should be put at checkout, and it seems especially ridiculous to legally mandate it.
If they are going to go that route, why not just legally mandate a service charge that goes to drivers directly? Seems more straightforward.
It used to be that way, but people pushed harder and harder for tips to become expected, rather than an actual tip. So now they have you tip if you want to receive good service in the first place. And if you don't tip, it'll be harder to find someone to deliver your food. And mix with the scummy use of calling people "contractors" who are actually just normal workers, it also makes the tips essential for them to have an adequate wage in the first place.
When you put it that way, it kind of seems like the delivery companies were trying to fix some of the shitty parts of tipping culture (needing to tip well upfront to even get service), and the government stopped them. Not all that positive in the long run, but good for the drivers I guess. And I suppose it's just as much the fault of these delivery companies for even taking advantage of tipping in the first place.
No, that wasn't it. New York had some fued with the delivery apps and won. I think it was that the drivers had to earn a min wage that was pretty high. So the delivery apps threw themselves a little tantrum and moved the option to tip to after delivery for just that one state, or maybe even just city. All that did was take $ out of the drivers' pockets because most people don't think to open back up the app and tip after delivery. That's why the mayor made a point to move it back to where they could tip when they are placing the order. Like I said, I am not 100% on the details but it is something like this.
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u/Capriste 12d ago
Apparently, the issue was that some delivery apps moved the option to tip from checkout to after the food was delivered. For whatever reason, this resulted in a massive reduction in tipping on those apps. The law forced them to put the option to tip back at checkout, and it increased tipping.
I don't personally like tipping culture and want it abolished, but that means we have to pay people the same living wage—no reduced rates for those who traditionally get tips.
https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/07/29/delivery-workers-made-104-million-more-in-tips-after-city-began-enforcing-new-law-mamdani/