Tipflation, GhostTipping, Tip Creep or Guilt Tipping - Do You Leave a Tip On Automated Transactions?

You know you've been there. At the front of the line, interacting with a nearly complete automated experience. And then you're asked to leave a tip. For some people, it's an infuriating imposition. For others, it's a way to support the displaced humans who are still working behind the scenes. The world seems to be struggling with what to call this practice. Leading suggestions include tipflation, ghost tipping, tip creep or guilt tipping.

Whatever you call it, the Wall Street Journal took a deep dive into what some consider the "emotional blackmail" of tipping after a self checkout. How you view it seems to come down to whether you consider a tip to be a recognition of excellent service, or a way for consumers to support underpaid retail workers.

For my part, I will often leave the tip, perhaps out of habit and maybe slightly out of a sense of altruism for often underappreciated retail workers. What do you do?