Tipping is a cultural phenomenon and is different in different cultures. In Japan, they see even our policy tipping of waiters and waitresses (15-20%) as offensive, and in Europe 15% is way too much.

As cultures change, so does tipping policy. If you've grown up with a culture where tip jars were infrequent as I did, then I understand why the recent proliferation seems inappropriate. But the disappearance of reasonable paying manufacturing and other similar jobs replaced with low paying service jobs has resulted in many people requiring these jobs as their livelihood. Previously, such service jobs were staffed by teenagers, students, and part-time workers, and the economics of those companies was based on low salaries that were acceptable to such workers.

Now with so many people requiring low paying service jobs as their primary income, it is not surprising that tip jars have proliferated. In truth, the only difference between tipping in unexpected vs expected places is the length of time such practice has been in place, not really where they are.

All of the above is not meant to disagree with the response of a number of people posted above. I myself am startled to find tip jars everywhere. But I do think it is a sign of our changing economic structure and the increase in low paying service jobs. That is why recent economic reports showing an increase in the number of jobs and the number of employed is very misleading. Most of these jobs are not of sufficient income to provide a livable wage.

Sorry to have gotten side-tracked, but I do think it is more than just some service workers becoming greedy.