Holiday tipping -- large building

Here's a secret: all those building employees are actually paid salaries. All those services they provide? They get a paycheck for that. So don't feel obligated to "tip" them for doing their jobs.

Matt, you are right. All those people on Wall Street get a salary to do their job, they deserve nothing for a "bonus" at year end.

BTW, if I were you I would not go back to any restaurant twice, as leaving zero for the tip means you may get some "extras" in your next entree.

What those elderly people tip may be a higher percentage of their income then $500 is to you ukrguy.

And Matt, would you like to live on the salary the building employees earn? Like restaurant servers, they accept that low "base payment" in expectation that there will be additional compensation, call it "tips" or "bonus" at holiday time/

"And Matt, would you like to live on the salary the building employees earn? Like restaurant servers, they accept that low "base payment" in expectation that there will be additional compensation, call it "tips" or "bonus" at holiday time"

Show me a restaurant server who's a member of a trade union (like building employees) making $65,000 year as their "base". (Let's not forget that many rack up tens of thousands of additional pay in overtime -- so many are making close to six figures.)

In New York State, the minimum wage for wait staff who earn tips is $4.60/hour. Even working 40 hour weeks, the most their "base" annual salary would be less than $10,000!

Building employees are NOTHING "like restaurant servers", and making the comparison is absolutely asinine.

And if these building workers don't like their base pay and overtime pay package, they are always free to find other work.

I wouldn't expect someone who advocates installing Formica counters to be much of a tipper.

Or someone who happily threatens to fire anyone caught accepting a tip.

Or someone who is happy to f$%# over his own co-op shareholders needing to sublet by turning down tenants for no good reason.

Maybe you can also give us some tips on how to maintain linoleum floors, with proper maintenance they should last forever. Just remember to not tip the installer.

"Show me a restaurant server who's a member of a trade union"

Virtually every major restaurant, every hotel restaurant in NYC. No need to tip at high-end steakhouses, those are all union waiters.

BTW, no need to leave a few bucks in your hotel room for the maid when you checkout, they get a salary too.

Cheap ass.

Matt the managing agent for our building gave a MUCH lower than $65K as the estimated "all in" cost per employee...and we are a union building. I believe the number was $42K including benefits, which means less than $35K cash income...not a level consistent with a decent standard of living in the New York area. Maybe different buildings have different pay scales: ours is very, very nice, friendly, clean and safe but nowhere near "white glove".

i can't believe how many people don't tip hotel housekeeping.

liz, if they're not satisfied they're free to look for employment elsewhere, according to matt. petty extortionists.

"Matt the managing agent for our building gave a MUCH lower than $65K as the estimated "all in" cost per employee...and we are a union building. I believe the number was $42K including benefits, which means less than $35K cash income...not a level consistent with a decent standard of living in the New York area. "

Find me a waiter or waitress who's doing better than that with their "base pay", and their LACK of job security and benefits.

Oh yes, and don't forget if the super is a live-in, his apartment is paid for by the building.

"i can't believe how many people don't tip hotel housekeeping."

I can't believe how many people don't tip sanitation workers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip teachers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip police officers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip subway workers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip firemen.

I can't believe how many people don't tip librarians.

I can't believe how many people don't tip telephone operators.

I can't believe how many people don't tip construction workers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip UPS and FedEx delivery men.

I can't believe how many people don't tip mailmen.

I can't believe how many people don't tip grocery store cashiers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip the salespeople at Bergdorf's.

I can't believe how many people don't tip real estate agents.

I can't believe how many people don't tip attorneys.

I can't believe how many people don't tip nurses.

I can't believe how many people don't tip television reporters.

I can't believe how many people don't tip the janitors at the New York Spots Club or Equinox.

I can't believe how many people don't tip insurance agents.

I can't believe how many people don't tip dentists.

I can't believe how many people don't tip newsstand sales guys.

I can't believe how many people don't tip street vendors.

I can't believe how many people don't tip paramedics.

> Any thoughts on how to solve what seems to be an unfair balance of use of services and tipping?

Do what you think is right.

IF the building is twice as large and has twice as much work and twice as many employees, but also twice as many residents, then you shouldn't be paying MORE for the same services just because its split up more. Yes, it will be a smaller amount per employee, but they will be getting more tips because more people live in the building.

Think of it this way...

If you have two waiters who help you through dinner, you don't tip 40%. If the restaurant is bigger, you don't increase the tip either.

The increased workload is well covered by the much higher number of people giving them tips.

" can't believe how many people don't tip sanitation workers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip teachers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip police officers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip subway workers.

I can't believe how many people don't tip firemen."

I tip them. I'll be tipping them till I die. Its called ridiculous pension benefits.

Most unionized building workers are getting their own "ridiculous pension benefits" too.

In other words, they don't "need" tips.

Matthew, you're a bit of work 8-(

If $500 is your budget, divide that by the number of workers. A nice card & a genuine 'Thank you, your help is truly appreciated - Happy Holidays' will suffice. It truly is the thought that counts.