As the World Cup approaches, some restaurants in Massachusetts are adding a 20% service charge to bills in anticipation of international visitors who may not be accustomed to U.S. expectations around tipping.

Local Restaurants Affected

At Union Straw in Foxboro, Massachusetts, customers will see a 20% service charge during the World Cup. "Time is going to be very, very far, few and beyond for people when they’re trying to get to the stadium, with traffic and all that stuff. So we are going to implement a 20% service charge on all checks and hope to streamline those operations and save people 10 to 15 minutes," said Craig Carreira, director of operations for Union Straw.

Right outside of Gillette stadium, at Patriot Place, Bar Louie and Davio’s are also planning to add a service charge during the World Cup. "That’s primarily how we do get paid, is through our tips," said Christine Peterson, a bartender at Davio’s.

In Massachusetts, tipped workers earn $6.75 an hour. If they don’t earn enough in tips to reach $15 an hour, employers must make up the difference. A 2024 ballot measure that aimed to raise the minimum wage gradually for tipped workers failed, in part, because many servers argued it would lower their overall compensation.

Some customers are not happy about the added charge. "I don’t really like it. I like to tip somebody for their service, but there’s no incentive for the server to do well," said Joan, a Rhode Island resident. Others, however, see it as a good thing. "I think it’s a good thing. They’re serving us, they should be able to get paid for their service. So I don’t mind," said Mishi, a woman visiting from Haiti.

Consumer Protection Act

Under Massachusetts’ Consumer Protection Act, any mandatory charges or fees must be made known to the customer wherever prices are displayed on menus and bills.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.