Tipping Pointers: When to Tip and How Much to Leave?

I agree with David below pay someone what they should be getting to do the job, full stop. In England I don't remember ever having to tip someone, we just got paid to work end of story. It really bothers me when I have to go to a restaurant and not only am I paying for the food but I'm also paying a percentage of their wages to serve me. When I go to the shops at the mall, or Tim Horton's and the workers do the same they don't expect a tip, why?- Because they are paid a proper wage, although I don't mind giving a tip when I get good service. I like to give one because I want to not that it is expected. I understand the hard work it takes and I'm certainly not downgrading their jobs, I simply think that the person who employs them should be paying them a wage that supports the job requirements and skill. Mr.CBB

I have never understood the tipping ritual. Why is it that some are and tipped and some are not? In Australia, tipping is not that common. Everyone is paid and they do their job, including waiters etc.
In Japan, it is seriously frowned upon as being an insult.
Because someone only makes min wage, it is usual because the job only demands min wage. Certainly no one tipped me during my working carreer.
Here in Canada, it is bad enough but in America , it goes to extremes.
Also, tipping used to be a basic 10% but now reaches at time over 20%. Cost of living has gone up, we are told. True, which means that something that cost $10.00 had a tip of $1.00. If today that cost has rissen to $20.00, then the 10% tip rises to $$2.00 accordingly. So why has the percentage also rissen.
Pay someone for the job and that should be it. It works in Australia and Japan, so it should work here.
David