Definition: Given a real-life anecdote of a complex ethical situation, generate a suitable title that describes the main event/root cause of the situation. Imagine that the given text is a social media post, and you have to write the title of the post, so the users can decide to read the main text or not.
Input: Info: I’m a 22yr old college student trying to earn money for books, food, and some occasional fun. I tried working a regular job only to have my grades fall. 

So I’ve been driving Lyft for a few months, and it didn’t take me very long to notice that MOST people don’t tip after their ride. No matter how great the ride is (I usually have pretty good convo, and I offer amenities like a charger and usually give the riders a chance to pick the music for the ride), most people just ride and move on with their day. I receive a tip 10-20% of the time according to my ride history. Although it makes me angry, I’ve pretty much gotten used to it. 

Here’s the thing- tips make the difference between earning decent money (15-20 an hour) and earning less than minimum wage on some days. It gets really shitty sometimes, especially since Lyft/Uber drivers have to use their own gas (don’t get paid) to travel to the pickup location. This may not seem like much, but with gas prices going back up, it really adds up over time and eats into the already terrible pay. 

I understand that I can get another job, but since I have class during the day and really don’t want to sacrifice my studies, I pretty much have no other option. The freedom that ride-sharing gives you to work whenever you want is a real benefit. 

***So to try to boost my earnings,I grabbed an envelope and wrote “Tips for gas and rides that didn’t suck” on it and hung it in my car. Although when I have it up, I usually do get more tips than normal, I kind of feel like an asshole for possibly pressuring people into giving me a tip. Sometimes I can tell it makes people uncomfortable. ***

TBH I have a problem with the fact that most people will tip their waiter but not their driver. I feel like giving someone a ride is much more personal than serving at a restaurant, as it requires more personal conversation, and you literally have their life in your hands while they’re in the car. I feel a good quality ride + good conversation + a few extra amenities is equivalent to a waiter giving you good service in a restaurant (what else can you possibly do during a short ride to campus or to the store). Maybe because people don’t know how little I get paid? The app makes it really easy to tip, but since people don’t see that screen until after they get out the car, it’s a lot easier for them to stiff drivers on the tip because they don’t have to do it in front of other people and will probably never see that driver again.

Am I pressuring/manipulating people? If so, how can I encourage tipping without being asshole if I’m already doing my best to provide a good service. 

TLDR: I drive Lyft and the overwhelming majority of riders don’t tip, so I put a “tip jar” up to help encourage/remind people. 

putting a "tip jar" up when I drive Lyft