{
  "id": 15863410,
  "title": "USA: Laws, lawsuits, tax benefits – America argues about tips",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/usa-gesetze-klagen-steuervorteil-so-streitet-amerika-uber-trinkgeld",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T08:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/trinkgeld-warum-der-freiwillige-dank-in-den-usa-vor-gericht-landete/100261411.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "A café in New York, Monkey Cup, has opted out of offering Wi-Fi to its customers, instead encouraging them to read books and socialize. However, when it comes to paying, customers are faced with a tablet asking for a tip, with suggested amounts of $1, $3, and $5. The issue of tipping has become a contentious topic in the US, with some businesses, like delivery apps, being forced by law to ask customers for tips, while others, like restaurants, rely heavily on tips to pay employees' wages. Researcher Michael Lynn notes that the increasing prevalence of tip requests has led to consumer backlash, with many people feeling pressured to give more than they want to. Some restaurants, like Dirt Candy, have opted out of asking for tips, instead paying employees a higher wage.",
  "summary": "Robot baristas are asking for tips, New York is forcing delivery apps to check. Voluntary thanks are becoming a matter of power in America and are keeping courts busy - with a signalling effect for Germany.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "USA: Laws, lawsuits, tax benefits – America argues about tips",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/usa-gesetze-klagen-steuervorteil-so-streitet-amerika-uber-trinkgeld",
        "published": "2026-10-19T09:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}