New Yorkers are not ready to give up tipping

There are signs tipping at restaurants has entered a death spiral, especially in New York.

But a new Quinnipiac poll suggests New York diners are not ready to give up the practice yet.

In a survey of 1,155 New York City voters, 55% said it would be a bad idea for restaurants to eliminate tipping and charge higher prices to pay their employees more.

And 56% said they would be unwilling to pay 20% more for your restaurant meal if it meant eliminating the tip.

“Here’s a tip for restaurateurs: Keep the tip. Most New Yorkers like this dining tradition just the way it is,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll in a release.

What they would be willing to do, they said, is pay more for their fast food if it meant higher wages.

Seventy percent said they’d support a $15 minimum wage.

“While they don’t want to give up tipping and pay more for waiter/waitress service, New Yorkers are willing to pay more for fast food to help those workers earn more,” Carroll said.

Rob covers business, economics and the environment for Fusion. He previously worked at Business Insider. He grew up in Chicago.