The U.S.-based firm already has the tipping feature for its Uber and Uber Eats applications in other regions, but its efforts in Australia are not going over well. “This will, of course, enable Uber to further exploit its employees by shifting the blame for not earning enough onto the workers themselves,” a Reddit user noted. Another Reddit user wrote that, “I don’t get tipped for closing help desk tickets with flair.” “Tipping is crap,” the user added. “Employers should just pay their employees a fair wage and if that means putting the price up then so what? It’s worked here forever.”
An Uber spokesperson said the company “often heard” from drivers and customers wanting an “opportunity to show their appreciation for great service.”
“Driver and delivery partners often go the extra mile to offer exceptional service, but until now there wasn’t an option for riders and eaters to reward this other than providing a five-star rating with compliments on Uber or thumbs-up on Uber Eats,” the spokesperson said.
But that is not a convincing argument for many who see tipping as a way for Uber to avoid properly paying workers. “We strongly believe if they were paying a fair and sustainable rate there would be no need for tipping,” said Les Johnson, secretary of the Ride Sharing Drivers Association.