Prof. Bruce McAdams

Should Canadian restaurants go “tip free?” University of Guelph professor Bruce McAdams is scheduled to discuss the issue tonight on CBC’s The National.

The story focuses on Montreal restaurants that have done away with tipping. McAdams, a professor in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, says more restaurants should consider discontinuing the practice.

A 2016 study conducted by McAdams and Prof. Michael von Massow, Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, found that tipping causes challenges ranging from quality control to pay inequity.

Doing away with the practice may help improve restaurant culture, McAdams says. But he admits change would be difficult when done in isolation.

McAdams studies sustainability issues in the food service industry.