In July 2020, my husband and I left Los Angeles with our two young children to visit family in a small town in the Danish countryside. Little did we know that this trip would lead to a permanent move and a new adventure.
When a farmhouse from the 1700s came on the market, we took a chance and decided to move our family to Denmark for many reasons you may have heard of: trust, health care, and national education, security and life in one of the happiest countries in the world. .
Since then, our adaptation process has been long, but rewarding. Starting my life again in a new country, learning the language, understanding how everything works, making friends: it was a humbling and fascinating experience for me.
One of the things I learned early on is that the tipping culture is very different in Denmark and the United States. It took me a little getting used to, but now I prefer the system here.
Why tipping is not expected in Denmark
Tipping is not common in Denmark, largely because it is the responsibility of businesses to pay their employees fairly.
Many service workers relied heavily on tips for their income, and it was customary for customers to add 15% to their bill, but tipping was officially abolished in Denmark in 1969.
Instead, a collective bargaining agreement was reached, ensuring that servers receive adequate compensation without relying on tips. As part of this agreement, a 15% service charge was included in the bill as compensation.
“Danish offers at the Roadhouse in Fyn.”
Photo: Brooke Black
These collective agreements set a minimum wage, negotiated by the unions every two to three years. Today, Danish service workers enjoy the highest wages in the EU – around $19 an hour.
Tipping is definitely an ingrained habit that I’ve had to unlearn here. The last thing I want to do as a resident of a new country is fail to follow proper etiquette – and the Danes are fiercely protective of their no-tipping culture.
DON’T MISS: The Ultimate Guide to Earning Passive Income Online
For exceptional service, people tip 10% or less
Upon arrival, when I tipped 20% or more on a coffee, I would receive perplexed looks from the waiters and my Danish friends would quickly explain the rules to me, while taking over the bill.
It took a little while to get the hang of it, but now I’ll tip around 10% – and only if I have really great service or if I’m part of a large party at a restaurant. The same goes for taxis, bars, hotels, tourist tours and other services. It’s considered a good thing to have the bill “rounded up” to the next full amount if you have change, but it’s definitely not expected.
“A view of Copenhagen’s oldest restaurant, Det Lille Apotek.”
Photo: Brooke Black
Cafes or bars sometimes have a “have a drink / potable” on the counter, which is their equivalent of a tip jar. Sometimes I see leftover change or bills inside, but because digital payment options are so ubiquitous, that’s not often the case.
I see far fewer “add a tip” options when paying with a card in Denmark than in the US. I’ve asked many Danish waiters to preemptively cancel the tip before handing me the machine.
It’s not just the situation in restaurants and cafes. What I’m still getting used to about the lack of tipping culture is that it means you generally don’t get any extras as part of some personal care services, like you would in the US . For example, salon manicures here are very basic. , no frills, so I started making them myself at home.
How Denmark’s tipping culture reflects its values
From what I’ve observed, Denmark’s sensitivity to tipping is an extension of its approach to work in general.
Restaurant servers, taxi drivers, porters, bartenders and many others who provide similar services are not just paid to live salary in Denmark — they receive benefits including maternity and paternity leave, childcare, disability coverage, and paid vacation from the government or their employer.
They don’t need to rely on tips to get by.
“My favorite traditional Danish dish, stjerneskud (shooting star), a delicious open-faced seafood sandwich.”
Photo: Brooke Black
In Denmark, you are not allowed to work in the service sector until you are 18 years old. If you are a minor, you need parental permission and have strict schedules. Employment opportunities for minors are generally limited to grocery stores, newspaper delivery, farming, or babysitting.
I really enjoy being part of the Danish system. I will happily pay my 48% income tax because I see my money going toward health care for all, subsidized college tuition, transportation, and much more.
The country’s commitment to workers’ rights adds to my overall quality of life here, and I like knowing that my contribution is helping to care for others.
Brooke Black is a storyteller with a journalism degree who has had a long career in entertainment and technology public relations. After many years living in New York, London and Los Angeles, she moved to the idyllic Danish countryside, where she lived on a 1722 farmhouse in a close-knit community surrounded by Scottish Highland cows. She currently resides in Copenhagen with her Danish husband and two young daughters and shares her experiences of living abroad on Instagram And Tic Tac.
Want to earn extra money outside of your day job? Register for CNBC’s New Online Course How to Earn Passive Income Online to learn more about common passive income streams, tips for getting started, and real-life success stories. Sign up today and save 50% with discount code EARLYBIRD.
More, sign up for the CNBC Make It newsletter for tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.
cnbc
