🏠 Why a lot of Oregonians work from home

7th Worst City for Traffic

Rush-hour delays along I-5 and other traffic congestion put Portland in the top 10 cities for the worst traffic, according to a report in the Consumer Affairs Journal of Consumer Research. At the same time, the average commute here (25 minutes) is faster than the nation overall. [KOIN]

2nd for Highest Percentage of Remote Workers

Almost 18% of Oregonians worked from home at least part-time in 2023 — more than double the figure before the pandemic. With a lot of people in technical and creative fields, Oregon ranks behind only Colorado in its higher share of remote workers. [Oregonian 🔒]

The Fight Pits Farmland Against a Chipmaker

As part of an effort to win nearly a billion in federal funding, the semiconductor company Intel and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D, Ore.) have asked Gov. Tina Kotek to designate 1,700 acres of farmland as industrial land — a power she has through 2024 under recently passed legislation. Key environmental groups are opposing such a massive exception to the state’s land use policies. [Oregonian 🔒]

Small Businesses Targeted by Suspicious Lawsuits

Maxine Bernstein, staff writer at the Oregonian, has been following dozens of suspicious lawsuits against small businesses for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some lawyers say they were basically extortion and local judges have been throwing these lawsuits out of court. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Not long ago, I spent the weekend in a good pizza town (other than Portland), and at a few different places, I noticed something strange: As I paid with a credit card for my slices, there was no prompt to tip (or to select the “no tip” option — aka to be a jerk).

This is a bit of a gripe, Portland: I can’t remember the last time I paid for even takeout where a tip/no-tip option wasn’t there.

Who doesn’t want to be generous? But sometimes it can feel like a guilt trip.

Friends have complained about being prompted for a “tip/no tip” option at some unexpected places. Burgerville was one example. One person I know griped that the question becomes: How slowly do you want your food? (There you’re prompted to choose between 15%, 20%, or no tip.)

I wouldn't begrudge a Burgerville worker a tip. What fast-food worker couldn't use an extra few dollars? But also it feels notable that an interaction like paying for food involves a hard-sell.

Tipflation is a thing. (A story from 2022 mentions a request for tips at Mama & Hapa’s, a zero-waste store in Portland.) And as inflation has driven prices higher, the percentage we’re being asked to tip seems to be going up, too

Oregon, as a whole, is somewhat middle of the pack, with an average tip at restaurants of 19.2% — according to the sales processing company Toast.

It often seems like the minimum tip option at your local coffee shop is a dollar (even when you’re spending less than $5), the brewery’s default option is set to 25%, and in many places, 15% is no longer an option.

As always: I’m interested in your views if you’re up for sharing: Where do you like the tip policy? Where has it bugged you? And why?

This time, please consider leaving a voicemail, to be included in an upcoming podcast episode on the subject of tipping: 503.208.5448. Or please email us.