One in five people won't tip a 'scruffy' person

Tipping has always been a grey area in the UK, and the 'unwritten rules' that many people follow are very much open to interpretation.

Workwear provider Simon Jersey has recently conducted some research which shows that the way in which a person dresses can have a major bearing on whether or not they receive a tip from a customer.

• One in five Brits admitted that they would not leave a gratuity if they felt the person who was providing them with a service looked scruffy.
• A further 21% said they would leave a bigger tip if the worker looked 'smart and tidy'.
• One in 10 Brits will leave a tip over the Christmas period - being smart and tidy will prove profitable at this time of year.

Helen Harker, design manager at Simon Jersey, said the research should act as a reminder that in an era when many companies are introducing more relaxed dress codes for their staff, it still pays to look smart when you have a customer-facing job. “Britons tend to have an unorthodox approach to tipping, so it's important that workers who rely on gratuity to top up their income take every measure possible to increase their chances of getting a tip,” she said. “Being polite and attentive are a minimum requirement. As our research showed, a person's appearance can make all the difference, with one in five people admitting that they would give more if they felt the person serving them had made an effort to look presentable. Whether you're a hairdresser, hotel worker or taxi driver, having a smart uniform could prove to be profitable, particularly in the run up to Christmas when customers are feeling a little more generous.”

www.simonjersey.com