Tipping your garbage guys and mail delivery

[Anonymous]

Huh? Interesting thread....I always thought tipping the mailman and garbage man were more of a myth than an actual practice.

It's not like either of these people are just doing me a favor. They get paid, and have benefits, because they choose to work either collecting garbage or being mailman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well it's nice that you all feel so appreciative and all that jazz. Good for you. Enjoy your giving, and your ability to give, and leave the rest of us alone without the name calling. A lot of these professions pay more than you are giving credit for, but even if they didn't it's not my job to go around dropping money like the tooth fairy.

I have my own family to worry about and when I feel like being charitable, I'll give to a charity or to an individual who I know for sure needs it.

It's not about charity. It's about being a human being in a culture that shows appreciation through tipping.

[Anonymous]

I tip when people go out of their way to be especially kind...the mailman who greets my family by name, has treats for my small dogs, and always has a smile on his face. I usually do a giftcard and baked goods, along with a note.

The garbage guys get tipped as well-they know am a mother of 5 kids and if I am hauling my trash cans as they are pulling up, they always get out of the truck and help me out...they also usually have a smile on their face.

Re: who generates enough trash for twice a week pick up...we do. We recycle, but with 5 kids, 2 dogs and one bird, we need the twice a week pickup.

I also give gifts to all of the people in the 'service' profession...my drs offices, dentists, ortho, nail salon and hair salon, housekeeper, and I give really good gifts to my kids teachers. As a former teacher, I KNOW the difference between a good teacher and a great one, and thankfully, my kids have had mostly great ones!

[Anonymous]

We leave the mailman lottery scratchers in the mailbox as a tip! It's fun, inexpensive and he might win something. We have a privately contracted garbage service. They are paid VERY well. But, I will probably make them cookies to take for the ride. IT's the holidays, people. BE NICE!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well it's nice that you all feel so appreciative and all that jazz. Good for you. Enjoy your giving, and your ability to give, and leave the rest of us alone without the name calling. A lot of these professions pay more than you are giving credit for, but even if they didn't it's not my job to go around dropping money like the tooth fairy.

I have my own family to worry about and when I feel like being charitable, I'll give to a charity or to an individual who I know for sure needs it.

It's not about charity. It's about being a human being in a culture that shows appreciation through tipping.

Maybe in your neck of the woods, but in my neck of the woods appreciation is shown by saying thank you.

[Anonymous]

If you tip your garbage men, how do you do it? I rarely see them on their rounds so I don't think I can do it in person. Do you tape the tip to the cans? In the past I have included a tip when I sent the payment in for garbage service but I'm not sure if that gets passed on directly to the garbage men or if it just goes into a pool.

[Anonymous]

What if you are barely scraping by and can't afford a tip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well it's nice that you all feel so appreciative and all that jazz. Good for you. Enjoy your giving, and your ability to give, and leave the rest of us alone without the name calling. A lot of these professions pay more than you are giving credit for, but even if they didn't it's not my job to go around dropping money like the tooth fairy.

I have my own family to worry about and when I feel like being charitable, I'll give to a charity or to an individual who I know for sure needs it.

Wow. Just, wow.

Tipping is very different from charity, by the way. And I don't think that any of the PPs were "name calling" or suggesting large sums of money as tips.

[Anonymous]

I do not tip government employees, and would certainly not expect a tip if I were a government employee. I realize fully that the person delivering my mail is a real live woman with children who does a good job (in rain and sleet, etc etc), and who would probably gratefully accept a tip at Christmas time. I just can't do it. I cannot give any tip (even cookies) to a person who has taken a job in the public sector. I absolutely believe there should be a training at every application session for the public sector, "Why you cannot ever accept even something SEEMING like a tip from the people you serve." I don't think you should take a job in the public sector if you don't understand the importance of providing equal service to everyone and that a tip (in any form) corrupts the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you are barely scraping by and can't afford a tip?

A card or cookies is just as appreciated. I don't think the public works people in our town know who donates to the holiday bonus fund, so it's not like they are going to be aware that x house gave y money. We usually give $20, which is not a lot, about $1 per employee. But we like knowing that we contributed something to show they're appreciated (and we also do cookies). I realize that cards and cookies also cost some amount of money, and if you can't spare it, you can't spare it. It's not obligatory and you shouldn't feel guilty about that.

For those who asked about tipping if you don't cross paths with folks on their regular routes: I would call the city or town (or county) municipal offices and ask about a holiday fund. Most places have them and you can donate directly to a pool (if you are comfortable supporting all the employees).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not tip government employees, and would certainly not expect a tip if I were a government employee. I realize fully that the person delivering my mail is a real live woman with children who does a good job (in rain and sleet, etc etc), and who would probably gratefully accept a tip at Christmas time. I just can't do it. I cannot give any tip (even cookies) to a person who has taken a job in the public sector. I absolutely believe there should be a training at every application session for the public sector, "Why you cannot ever accept even something SEEMING like a tip from the people you serve." I don't think you should take a job in the public sector if you don't understand the importance of providing equal service to everyone and that a tip (in any form) corrupts the system.

The USPS is now a private company. (If that changes anything for you.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not tip government employees, and would certainly not expect a tip if I were a government employee. I realize fully that the person delivering my mail is a real live woman with children who does a good job (in rain and sleet, etc etc), and who would probably gratefully accept a tip at Christmas time. I just can't do it. I cannot give any tip (even cookies) to a person who has taken a job in the public sector. I absolutely believe there should be a training at every application session for the public sector, "Why you cannot ever accept even something SEEMING like a tip from the people you serve." I don't think you should take a job in the public sector if you don't understand the importance of providing equal service to everyone and that a tip (in any form) corrupts the system.

That's why most places have a pool to which you can donate for an equal holiday bonus for all employees. The bonus reflects the way that people generally see the workers, but doesn't link the bonus to specific favors or extras from one employee to one resident. Our town manager encourages us to do this rather than provide money directly to the employees; they're supposed to pool tips, but better safe than sorry. Of course, you may also not approve of holiday bonuses, which is a separate issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The USPS is now a private company. (If that changes anything for you.)

Ah, is that why they have been laying off employees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not tip government employees, and would certainly not expect a tip if I were a government employee. I realize fully that the person delivering my mail is a real live woman with children who does a good job (in rain and sleet, etc etc), and who would probably gratefully accept a tip at Christmas time. I just can't do it. I cannot give any tip (even cookies) to a person who has taken a job in the public sector. I absolutely believe there should be a training at every application session for the public sector, "Why you cannot ever accept even something SEEMING like a tip from the people you serve." I don't think you should take a job in the public sector if you don't understand the importance of providing equal service to everyone and that a tip (in any form) corrupts the system.

The USPS is now a private company. (If that changes anything for you.)

It does change things for me. I tipped the USPS guy just this evening. I tip big and I give big to charities. I just don't tip public.

[Anonymous]

In our DC neighborhood the garbage guys honk for
tips! It took me a few years to figure it
out. I usually do tip (sometimes taping it to a
Super Can). I never tip our mail person because,
in 15 years of living in our house, our mail has
rarely been delivered by the same person
for more than a month at a time.