UK 
United States
A strange US concept of peer-to-peer tipping has arrived in the UK and its popularity is growing – but what is it?
Peer-to-peer micro-bonuses are essentially little earmarked amounts of money which employees can give out to their colleagues based on the work they’ve done.
US-based firm Bonusly reports a 75% increase in UK customers using their tipping scheme in the last 12 months alone, with around 250 companies using the scheme to give micro-bonuses to over 10,000 employees. Co-founder of Bonusly, Raphael Crawford-Marks says the idea is “ensuring that employees receive timely and meaningful recognition.” It’s a peculiar idea that’s aimed at keeping employees feeling appreciated and propped up by instant-gratification in the form of tips. The effectiveness of this is yet to be really seen.
Former employees of businesses that use the micro-bonus peer-to-peer system aren’t quite of the same opinion, with claims it’s “open to abuse”, as well as the fact that it can result in a popularity contest and diminish the value of the work you do, by making it seem like you’re purely working for tips. A former employee of a P-to-P tipping company, Victoria Davies, said: “It was one extra level of stress that I didn’t need.” It’s hard to see much positive value in the scheme.
