Pizza, Tips, and Fairness—Why Delivery Drivers Deserve Better

Your slice of fairness.

BY STAFF @the Brimly Test Kitchen

May 31, 2024

Image Source/Editors @ Brimly

4 minute Read

INFO CONTENT

FEATURE ARTICLE

Personal VIEW

“My earnest thoughts on tipping being matched? It's about time.”

Pizza. Pizza. Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of delivery services. I think they're convenient, encourage my laziness, and are undoubtedly a wonderful thing that has changed the world as a whole. But I recognize that aside from the joy I derive from getting food delivered straight to my door whenever I want, there's a person on the other side responsible for delivering that food to me. And I've never been shy about tipping. I've had friends who've worked in the food industry. I personally, have been in the customer service industry, so I understand and empathize with the trials and tribulations of that specific job. It can be frustrating when someone picks up your food, drives a long distance, and doesn't receive a tip for their efforts.

There's a considerable debate about tipping: why we should, why we shouldn't, and whether companies should just pay their employees more. I get that. Companies often view paying higher wages as a significant overhead and choose not to do it. That's a problem. The other day, I was casually watching TV when I saw a Domino's commercial advertising their cheesy, gooey pizza. They announced a new promotion: they would match your tip. If you tipped $3, they would add $3 to the driver's earnings. I screamed in excitement and told my wife, "Look, they're looking out for the little guys!"

But then I read more about it. Turns out, it wasn't quite what I thought. Domino's wasn't matching tips for the drivers. Instead, they were giving you a $3 coupon for your next order if you tipped $3. So, it helps you, not necessarily the drivers. Sure, you could argue it encourages tipping, but wouldn't it be better if companies actually matched tips? Imagine a world where if I tipped $5, the company added another $5. That could be a significant improvement for delivery drivers who heavily rely on tips as a major portion of their earnings.

The pandemic was tough on many people. Many folks lost their jobs and turned to gig economy jobs like delivery driving to make ends meet. This is their lifeblood, their source of income. So, I think companies should do better. Why not match tips? They have millions of dollars. If they can come up with cheesy breadsticks, they can come up with a way to help their drivers who are bringing those breadsticks to us.

So, I say to all those companies out there: match tips. Don't just give me a coupon. A coupon might give me an incentive to order from you again, but it's not a guarantee. Matching tips, on the other hand, is a win-win situation. You'll get better customer service, better drivers, quicker delivery times, and more enthusiastic employees. Drivers will feel valued, knowing the company they work for is looking out for them. They'll be more driven and hardworking because there's an incentive to do well. It's a simple change that can bring about a significant improvement in the delivery experience for everyone involved.

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Imagine a scenario where you tip $2, and the company matches it. That small gesture can make a driver feel appreciated and motivated. It can also motivate them to be friendlier and better at their job. In the end, the customer, the driver, and the company are happy. It's a win-win-win.

So, that's my take. Every company should match tips. If they can, they should. And even if they can't, they still should because it's the right thing to do. This simple change could make a huge difference in the lives of delivery drivers who work hard to bring us our favorite foods. But it's not just up to the companies. It's up to us, the consumers, to demand this change. Let's make it happen, one tip at a time.