{
 "site": "Courteous",
 "url": "https://courteo.us/",
 "description": "Courteous is a researched, plain-spoken reference on modern etiquette: tipping, email and texting, dinner parties, weddings, condolences, travel and cultural customs, with every statistic cited.",
 "language": "en-US",
 "publisher": "All Things AI (allthingsn.com)",
 "author": "The Courteous Editors",
 "generated": "2026-10-22",
 "series": "The Daily Dilemma",
 "series_url": "https://courteo.us/daily/",
 "feed": "https://courteo.us/feed.xml",
 "latest": "2026-10-22",
 "count": 2,
 "entries": [
  {
   "number": 2,
   "date": "2026-10-22",
   "url": "https://courteo.us/daily/earbuds-in-at-work/",
   "markdown": "https://courteo.us/daily/earbuds-in-at-work/index.md",
   "title": "Is It Rude to Keep Earbuds In at Work?",
   "question": "A coworker starts talking to me and I still have my AirPods in. Do I really have to take them out?",
   "description": "Wearing earbuds to focus is fine. When a coworker speaks to you, take both out. Here’s why one bud isn’t enough and how to signal focus time politely.",
   "dek": "Headphones are how a lot of people survive an open-plan office. The awkward part is the moment someone walks up and starts talking while you’re still wearing them.",
   "verdict": "Wearing earbuds to concentrate is fine; keeping them in while someone talks to you is not. Take both out (or pause and pull one, then the other) and give the person your full attention, then put them back when the chat ends.",
   "verdict_short": "Take both out",
   "category": "Office life",
   "topic_hub": "https://courteo.us/work-and-digital/",
   "related_guides": [
    "https://courteo.us/workplace-etiquette/",
    "https://courteo.us/video-call-etiquette/",
    "https://courteo.us/texting-phone-etiquette/"
   ],
   "keywords": [
    "airpods at work",
    "earbuds etiquette",
    "headphones in the office",
    "is it rude to wear headphones at work",
    "conversation awareness"
   ],
   "word_count": 572,
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Debrett’s — AirPod etiquette",
     "url": "https://debretts.com/air-pod-etiquette/"
    },
    {
     "label": "The Conversation — Workers hate office noise – but is using headphones to shut out colleagues the solution? (Libby Sander, July 2023)",
     "url": "https://theconversation.com/workers-hate-office-noise-but-is-using-headphones-to-shut-out-colleagues-the-solution-209134"
    },
    {
     "label": "Apple Support — Adjust listening mode settings on AirPods (Conversation Awareness)",
     "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/airpods/dev6d977ff21/web"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "number": 1,
   "date": "2026-10-21",
   "url": "https://courteo.us/daily/tip-screen-self-checkout/",
   "markdown": "https://courteo.us/daily/tip-screen-self-checkout/index.md",
   "title": "Do You Have to Tip on a Self-Checkout Screen?",
   "question": "The tablet at a self-serve counter is asking for 20%. Do I have to tip?",
   "description": "No. A tip prompt at a kiosk or counter where nobody served you is optional. Here’s when to tap No Tip, when a tip is kind, and what to say.",
   "dek": "You scanned your own items, or ordered a muffin and watched someone hand it over in four seconds. Then the screen offered you 18, 20 or 25 percent. Here’s how to answer it without guilt or stinginess.",
   "verdict": "No. At a self-checkout kiosk or a counter where you order and pick up yourself, a tip is optional; tap No Tip or Custom without apology, and tip when someone genuinely did extra work for you.",
   "verdict_short": "Optional",
   "category": "Tipping & service",
   "topic_hub": "https://courteo.us/money-and-service/",
   "related_guides": [
    "https://courteo.us/tipping-guide/",
    "https://courteo.us/holiday-tipping/",
    "https://courteo.us/customer-service-phrases/"
   ],
   "keywords": [
    "tip screen",
    "self-checkout tipping",
    "tipflation",
    "do I have to tip at a kiosk",
    "counter service tip"
   ],
   "word_count": 633,
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Pew Research Center — Tipping Culture in America: Public Sees a Changed Landscape (Nov. 2023)",
     "url": "https://www.pewresearch.org/2023/11/09/tipping-culture-in-america-public-sees-a-changed-landscape/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Bankrate — Tipping survey (YouGov, June 2025)",
     "url": "https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/tipping-survey/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Emily Post Institute — General Tipping Guide",
     "url": "https://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide"
    },
    {
     "label": "ABC7 News — Consumers cry ‘emotional blackmail’ as self-checkout screens ask for tips",
     "url": "https://abc7news.com/post/self-checkout-tips-tipping-at-walmart-surcharge/13256962/"
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}