Holiday Gifts/Tips for Service People

[Ravenclaw]

I think our mailman who is terrible at his job actually expected a holiday gift from us. Do you tip/gift your mailman?

This is our first time not living in an apartment so we actually see our mailman but he's just so bad I don't see the point of rewarding him for lazy service. There's no parking in front our our house because it's a busy street so he has to walk 7 houses down to get to ours if he wants to deliver something. More often than not, he won't bother coming to the door but will leave a notice that he missed us. One notice, he was too lazy to even check the time he "attempted" delivery and he wrote in the time as NOW. Most of the time, I'll just request a re-delivery and tell them to leave at the door. A few times, we've had packages waiting at the post office for 2 weeks because he didn't even leave a notice. I only found out because I was wondering where the pkgs. were so I checked the tracking online.

Anyways, since he's terrible, I would never even think of giving a gift. Today, he delivered something and waited at the door until I answered. I thought it might be something I had to sign for so I opened it but it wasn't. Usually he rings the bell and leaves right away, so I'm pretty sure he was expecting something. Unbelievable! I wonder if our mail service will get even worse now.

[Pollyanna]

Not once have I ever left a gift for the mailman, garbage man, etc. They are getting paid to do their job. The only service person I give a gift to is our housecleaner because she is a life saver.

[migirl]

I probably wouldn't tip in your case, he sounds like he suuuuucks.

I gave our mail person and our newspaper delivery each a $25 Target gift card. They each do a good job, I don't tip anyone else.

[SoonerTexan]

I left cookies for the mailman last year and he wrote a nice thank you note. He has to walk door to door In some awful weather so it is probably deserved.

[SuzySunshine]

I gave holiday goodies to our mailman and trash man last year but I knew we were leaving. Our mailman wrote a nice note.

I've never done anything like that before. I actually never even heard of it until I was on mommy forums and someone else mentioned it. Maybe it's a regional thing?

[Vishenka69]

I've never met our mailman since the mailbox is over 1/4 mile from the house. But he just pulls up in the mailtruck and stuffs boxes from the window, not much of an effort. I did give a holiday bonus to the cleaner and babysitters.

[MissCrabette]

It seems like this topic comes up every year, and my opinion still hasn't changed. They do a job they get paid for. No gifts.

Why should a select group of people get special treatment? People don't give holiday gifts to their grocery store clerk, apartment complex manager, auto mechanic, or police officer, at least as far as I know. If they do, it's probably because they went above and beyond in performing their duties. Or maybe it's people trying to get rid of cookies they would otherwise stuff their own faces with and regret later.

[Ravenclaw]

I wouldn't mind giving something if he was good. I probably wouldn't give a gift card/$ but cookies or some treat. I know it feels nice when DH gets something from his patients or their families, even a card.

[weeniegeniewife]

Our mailman is great. Our house is down a long driveway and he always walks down to deliver our mail to the front door if there is too much to fit in the mailbox. He always gets baked goods from us at Christmas and is very grateful.

[Ladybug]

Our mailman is awesome. He redirects misaddressed mail our way, he PAID the small COD fee out of his pocket for our package when we weren't home, and he delivers to both DH's work and my work. We love Steve and we've tipped him $20 every year.

The paper delivery guy left us a card *asking* for a tip. It said, "Thanks 4 the tips. Keep the tips coming! Merry Christmas."

I've considered canceling our subscription over it. Creep.

I give the housecleaner an extra payment, all sitters get $25, and the nanny got two weeks of paid vacation. Holy Shit! Where's the tylenol?

It seems like this topic comes up every year, and my opinion still hasn't changed. They do a job they get paid for. No gifts.

Why should a select group of people get special treatment? People don't give holiday gifts to their grocery store clerk, apartment complex manager, auto mechanic, or police officer, at least as far as I know. If they do, it's probably because they went above and beyond in performing their duties. Or maybe it's people trying to get rid of cookies they would otherwise stuff their own faces with and regret later.

I agree. The only people I'll tip are people who are paid less because it's assumed that they will get tips (like waiters/waitresses). I'll also tip delivery men/women. I don't tip other people.

[oceanchild]

I have no problem being generous when warranted, even when people are getting paid for the job already. My newspaper delivery is really important to me. She does a good job. I'll probably give her $10 or $20.

I don't think there should be (or are, really) systematic requirements on generosity, but I don't think generosity has to be ruled out, just because the person's already getting paid.

[MissCrabette]

See, you guys keep giving examples of people actually going above and beyond their job duties, and in those cases I agree, a nice gesture of thanks is warranted. What I don't like is the expectation that they should get anything for simply doing their jobs.

And while it's nice when our doctor spouses and SOs get a nice thank you card, they also don't linger in a patient's room waiting for it. It's a nice surprise when they are thanked for making a difference in someone's life, not an expectation.

ETA: Maybe it's because I come from a culture where a little something extra is always expected for people to do their job, and I'm sick and tired of that mentality. In the case of doctors, it was always a big fat envelope full of cash, preferably euros or dollars. I am all for rewarding excellent service, and I tip well, but I hate being pressured to give when not deserved.

[Deebs]

We are not giving to our mailman or garbage men this year because they kind of aren't all that great. For the teachers, I kind of go all out (bus driver is included in this - he makes sure my kid starts and ends her day well, is so nice to her, knows what day she's special helper, and makes sure she gets to school in one piece..anyway). I planned to make each teacher a couple dozen cookies and give a generous gift card to each. This turned into 4 dozen cookies for each of the primary teachers to go with their gift cards, and then (after my daughter reminded me that her gym, music, art, and library teachers are all also VERY important people) an additional 2-3 dozen cookies for each of those teachers. I realized over the weekend that I had made over 20 dozen cookies in the last week (the last two dozen were made at 6am today). I have officially lost my mind, but everyone was so, so, so appreciative! And, while I did the labor, the spirit of the whole thing really came from my six year old and THAT makes a mama proud!