Holiday Tipping - How Much?

Also curious as to how much for a...

RENTAL property...

ie all the doormen, porters, super know me on a 1st name basis, know about my career and life since I lived in the building for 6 years PRIOR to renting it out..

Now I'm NEVER in that building only except to catch up with my tenant if I happen to be in the nabe or pick up mail..

So I don't live there for 1 day, but they ALL know me as the owner...

how much do I pay then to avoid any awkwardness.. Is cash still king in this scenario or will bottles of wine suffice, and cash expected to be paid by my tenant since he's the one using their services??

Hol - cash is always king. If you're a shareholder but subletting the apartment, you should still pay as though you live there. Don't count on your tenant.

hol - When I was in a similar position as you, I only tipped the super and handyman since they were the only ones I interacted with during the year. I would think that your tenants would tip just as if they were in a rental building. You're not responsible to tip for your tenants. Additionally I tipped generously anytime I need the services of the building staff during the year.

Always give money, no one wants wine, food, candy, etc.

There are like 25 supporting staffers in my building but no one really does anything for me directly. I know the porters throw out the trash and keep the garbage room clean but other people like the doormen and janitor don't do shit. Not one ever helped me when coming back from Costco. When I complained the apt is cold the janitor/super tells me is colder this year than last year. WHAT???

But I will still tip them a few hundred because is the "tradition".

thanks RENY... im guessing you tipped super and handyman for your rental cash as if you LIVED there for 12 months.. (ie no 30% off for not living their and inconveniencing them)..

FWIW, i (or my tenant) haven't used services for either my super in 3 years as rental building is new/good condition.. my tenant is handy - the most he had to deal with was clogged toilet and he took care of it..

but it seems tipping nowadays isn't based on service (how many times you use your super), but to avoid that "awkwardness" if you happen to see them post-Holidays and strike up a convo about sports/weather with the tip elephant in the room..

hol4: It's most important to tip well if they do a service for you. A holiday tip is so they "keep an eye" on the property for you and have your tel # if they need to get in touch. I'd give each $50, but the amount is up to you.

i checked the "tipping ettiquette" guidelines. i will be tipping $20 - $25 doorman $50-$75 super, and i'm not sure if it is necessary to tip porter & maintenance? if i have anyone do work for me i usually tip on the spot.
should everyone be tipped $20 and the ones i see all the time $25?

movinup1: I'd tip everyone who works in the building. I'm sure that for $20 or $25 a year it won't be a big deal to you and it shows your appreciation for a job well done. You never know who and when you may need a favor from one of the staff, and they have a way of remembering who the tippers are.

"How much do you tip to your staff?"

Nothing.

I live in a large building and the doormen/porters are always wonderful (we have two on duty all the time with one at the door and the other assisting shareholders). Absolutely agree and confirm that anything other than cash is very poor etiquette, however, I always give a little personal something with the cash (be it a homemade cookie tray, bottle of wine, $5 gift card to Starbucks with a cheery note of "hope this warms you up after being in the cold all shift"). Makes them remember you even more when you need them to go above and beyond their "duties"......

I give the super and the guy in the package room (he does a lot of day-to-day favors for me) $100 each
I give the doormen and the building maintenance guys $40 each.
I give the porters $20 each.

It cost me about $660 this year to tip, but it's once a year....

i like the idea of giving a little something additional such as cookies etc. but i'm re-thinking after reading all of these comments, perhaps its better to give the extr $10 in cash. matsonjones, why do you tip the maintenance as much as the doorman and the porter less?
$100 super, $25 maintenance, $30 doormen? BTW i only visit the condo on the weekends,(pied d'terre)

movinup: well, my thought is this. I see and interact with the doormen everyday. the maintenance guys I don't see every day, just a couple times a year if something has gone awry in my unit, but still, if something does goes wrong, you want their full and immediate attention. the porters, well, i just never use them and interact very little with them at all.

ok so $20 porters $25 maint. $30 doormen.is probably sufficient.
while i would like to be generous, i think we have to remember that these guys do get paid, & it is their job to fix any problems.

Moving--it does not matter whether you are a full-time resident or use the unit as a pied-a-terre. You still need to tip properly. Remember, these guys are also looking out for you when you aren't there--if something goes wrong you want them to respond quickly.

WHy do fulltime porters get so much less than doormen? The porters have the nasty job of collecting trash and cleaning up...if anything...shouldnt they get an equal tip vs doormen? Also, do you tip the 12 to 8am doormen less because you dont see him as often as the 8-4pm and 4-Midnight doormen?

if you live in a larger building 200 + residents & everyone tipped $20, that's a much nicer bonus than i get for doing my job. tips should be discretionary not mandatory. let's not forget they get paid for doing their job, and they are not "tipped employees". for them to treat one tenant better than the other based on tip would be wrong.
I do agree whether you are there all the time or not they still deserve the tip. I also believe when a specific person helps me in a particular out of the ordinary situation anytime of the year that it is proper to tip on the spot.

It also depends on the size of your building. If it's a smaller building - say 50 apartments - you may want to tip a bit more.

I think that all the service employees should be tipped equally because they all contribute towards making life in the building more pleasant. Even though you do not see the porters, just think how unpleasant life would be if they weren't doing their jobs.

"It also depends on the size of your building. If it's a smaller building - say 50 apartments - you may want to tip a bit more. "

Absolutely. If you have twice the apartments and twice the staff as another building with similar services to you, then you should not be giving each person the same amount and doubling your outlay.

Fllady, interesting point. But then, should they all also be paid equally? Do you tip a waiter the same amount, regardless of the cost of your meal, or the type of restaurant? i.e. are you tipping for your perceived value of someone serving you a meal? Are you thereby paying for a service which should actually be included in the cost of a restaurant meal. If the service is woefully inadequate, do you not tip? or perhaps lower it to 5%. And then the waiter might chase you down the street. I actually had this happen to me many years ago at a Japanese restaurant on lower 2nd Ave.
Not surprising that the subject of tipping occupies so many threads every year on SE.
My super surely earned more this past year than I did, and provided zero service for me. Nevertheless our NYC culture forces us to tip 100 bucks minimum to the super because of.... because of...... fear of retribution? fear of not getting a new toilet seat (haven't gotten one for several years.). Sheesh, Merry Christmas everyone. Will the snarks bite? Or do we have a new improved SE for the new year??

toilet seats! yes! but it's not why i tip.

I used to livein a building and had about 30 people. We have since moved and have 1 super, 4 full time doorman, 2 part time 4 porters and 2 handymen

The super gets $100
The full time doorman get $100.00 (we get a lot of deliveries)
Part time $50 each
Porters $25.00
Handy men $30.00

We are so very happy it costs us less then $1,000 now.

I will say this:

I have been living in Manhatatan forabout 20 years now and can tell you that everyone wants money, no other gifts. They also dont want checks for $5 or $10.00 they tell me it insults them

I live in a building with just as many employees. All with generous union contracts.

I am so very happy it costs me $0.00 for tips.

I will say this:

I have been living in Manhattan for about 20 years myself now and can tell you that everyone wants money, no other gifts. They also don't want checks for $5 or $10 ... they tell me it insults them. So at the risk of insulting anyone, I give them NOTHING.

ongoing online surveys

http://www.brickunderground.com/poll/2010/how_much_total_will_you_tip_the_building_staff_this_year_at_the_holidays

http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=91tfDUx5aU3bjw8Glmw_2b6gGwe020GDJlEeycthIoM64_3d

nycmatt, i wish i had your b-lls!!!! and i mean that as a compliment

Yes, these are low skilled over paid jobs.

Nyc Matt,

Do you tip the delivery person, or the person who is waiting on you at a restaurant? What about the postman

Most people in the service industry need their tips, they have bills and probably have children too.

I hope you are one in a select few you dont tip at all to the people that help run your building on a daily basis.

how about instead of tipping everyone individually, one gives a lump sum to the "bonus" fund for thre building staff? And the contribution is known to everyone.

This could be more cost effective instead of individual tipping

I think the building staff where I live was absolutely against this proposal when the board suggested it - not sure why the board backed off :-(

Just tipped $20 per doorman, $20 per concierge, $20 to the super, $10 to each handyman and porter. All in just under $200 in tips. These numbers are not high by any means; however, there are 343 apartments in my building (all market rate as far as I know). If each apartment did the same, it would work out very nicely for the staff.

For the record, agree with projects_suck. I used to live in a building that had an employee fund. It was more convenient and less expensive.

NYC Matt: you seem too harsh and extreme.

"Do you tip the delivery person, or the person who is waiting on you at a restaurant? What about the postman

Most people in the service industry need their tips, they have bills and probably have children too."

Yes, I tip those who make at or below minimum wage.

I don't tip the ones making generous union salaries with health and pension coverage. If those guys "need" tips to put food in their children's mouths, they're not managing their money properly. Not my problem.

Matt, how much do your doormen make? These guys can't be getting paid that much.

The current contract was from last April. By 2014 the average will be $44,000.

More importantly, after a lifetime of stiffing the staff, Matt will have what? $100K more than the rest of us?

Those poor guys must be the dregs of the doorman world. Anybody decent must bail out for a good building when he gets the chance.

Nyc Matt,

How much do you think your porters make? why do you think it matters how much someone makes to show your appreciation?

Thats what tipping is, it is showing your graditude for the people that help you. It doesnt matter if they make minium wage or 40k a year

"Thats what tipping is, it is showing your graditude for the people that help you."

They're not "helping" me.

They're doing a job, for which they are paid.

Isnt it a waitresses "job" to serve you?
Isnt it a maids job to turn down your bed?

I cant think of one "job" where the person only works for tips

Do you live in a nice building? Do they keep it clean?

Are you cheap person? or is it somoething else?

"Isnt it a waitresses "job" to serve you?"

Waitresses don't get paid union salaries with generous health and pension plans.

***

"Isnt it a maids job to turn down your bed?"

Ditto the chambermaid.

***

"I cant think of one "job" where the person only works for tips."

You must never have visited a restaurant.

***

"Do you live in a nice building? Do they keep it clean?"

Yes I do. And we pay them a generous salary to do so.

***

"Are you cheap person? or is it somoething else?"

No. I'm practical.

Matt, I know some waitresses that get paid a hell of a lot more than doormen. You seem bitter and angry about this.

Doormen and building staff rely on year end tips. If everyone had your view, buildings would have to pay them more out of building funds. But beyond that, these people are providing services directly to you. Do you not think that some do a better job than others? Do you not recognize if some go beyond their job description in helpfulness? Tipping is a way for you to directly show your appreciation to someone who has provided you services all year, and who you may think was especially considerate or helpful to you. Stop being a Scrooge.

"Doormen and building staff rely on year end tips."

That's as irresponsible as investment bankers "relying" on bonuses to make ends meet.

Live within your means (your salary). Anything else is gravy. If it's not enough, get a higher-paying job, or cut your expenses.

Matt,

I dont think it is pratical at all. Is it really practical to be the only person in your building not to tip the people that make your life easier?

Do you have a cleaning lady? We give her a weeks pay even though we pay her every week

Our Nanny? She gets $900 a week and 2 weeks off and paid holidays and yet we gave her a weeks pay.

Thats what we do in this society, we show appreciation to those that help us

matt 1) are you the only one living there not to tip at all (and what is the general tipping practice among those living there), 2) do others that live there know that you do not tip at all, 3) has a staff member ever mentioned in any way, subtle or not, that you did not tip at all, 4) has this been discussed at board meetings ?

"I dont think it is pratical at all. Is it really practical to be the only person in your building not to tip the people that make your life easier?"

Once again: I PAY THEM A SALARY to make my life "easier." Just like MY employer pays me to make HIS life "easier". See how it works? No need for extra pay in the form of a "tip" if you're just fulfilling your job duties.

***

"matt 1) are you the only one living there not to tip at all (and what is the general tipping practice among those living there), 2) do others that live there know that you do not tip at all, 3) has a staff member ever mentioned in any way, subtle or not, that you did not tip at all, 4) has this been discussed at board meetings ?"

1. No. Nobody tips; it's a building policy for employees NOT to accept gratuities.
2. Yes. Because nobody tips.
3. It's a moot point.
4. Yes. We discuss the fact that we love our no-tipping policies at the board meetings.

Fewer than 3% of all visitors to streeteasy ever look at the Talk threads according to Streeteasy. Of all the "tipping" threads, NYCMatt has staked an extreme, outlier position and appears to be on an inexplicably energized crusade to disuade others from tipping building staff at all. Matt's position is clear. It has been for a few years. And yet you people just keep engaging him and he keeps saying the same things and no one appears convinced, but the posts continue. Maybe its a game to goad him into sharing more frothy diatribes on the subject. But if not, no one is going to change Matt's mind, and he appears to be changing no one else's, and few people read these boards anyway so it isn't like there's a silent throng of the public avidly reading all this and deciding not to tip. So what's the point. X-mas is done. Can the tipping threads be done, too?

I can't imagine the reduced service level at Matt's building if the Board doesn't permit them to take tips.

Hey Kyle,

I am new to street easy, I did not know this went on for years. It just seemed wierd to me as i have been living in NYC for about 20 years now and even when i had little money tipped people. I never heard of any building not allowing holiday tips.

If it is a union building, is the Board even allowed to prohibit tips?

Of course not---the union runs the bldg---not the board!!

Oh shoot...LIDope...he got me to unwittingly concede that the unions are evil!!!

thank you Kylewest for being the voice of reason once again--I was thinking the same thing and you have expressed it exactly as I would have!!!

I like Matt's building's no-tipping policy. It might not be for everyone and every building, and thats fine.

But, I have to tell you, I love the value it adds... none of that worrying if you gave enough, none of that stupid game playing with the staff being nicer in the 3 weeks before, bla bla.

I have friends in all sorts of buildings, and the vast majority always have some worry/complaint about these things.

I love the idea of simplifying.

bizarre that those who find certain threads distasteful, continue to read them

does the title of this thread not make clear it regards what you find unpleasant? were you tricked into reading?

or is it that you like to pontificate?

ahh to be the voice of reason......

WBottom---I was referring to Kylewest's comment on NYCMatt (not the tipping thread in general) which I have obviously chosen to read (out of curiosity)---NYCMatt has made his position and his building's policy on the tipping issue quite clear time and time and time again...if you are referring to me--I certainly do not like to pontificate and really hate when a simple comment, such as mine, gets people in the mood to criticize!

"does the title of this thread not make clear it regards what you find unpleasant? were you tricked into reading?"

lol

well played, wbottom. Its like the howard stern haters, who end up listening twice as long as the fans...

"If it is a union building, is the Board even allowed to prohibit tips?"

Yes.

There is nothing in the union contract prohibiting us from prohibiting gratuities.

But does the union contract prohibit you from disciplining employees for accepting tips? The prohibition would have to be on the employees from accepting tips, because you couldn't enforce a prohibition against residents for giving tips.

Yes, that is true.

No, the union contract does not prohibit us from disciplining employees for accepting tips. We have a special side letter in the union contract for our building.

NYCMatt, you have the balls that many here wish they had...

We had just had an 8% raise in maintenance..also in the footnotes are renegged Union health family plans that the unit owners pay for (not to mention their pensions)..

2006 NYT article...

"Each doorman costs around $80,000 ($37,315 in salary, plus overtime, benefits, training and other expenses"

$80,000 for a job that doesn't even require a high school education.. not bad

I wouldn't call NYCMatt extreme, logical best fits..

Oh and we always tip waiters/waitresses at LEAST 20%.. 15% for bad service.. I was a waiter once, and know how valuable tips are.. I didn't expect my customers to pay for my healthcare and pension (if I had one)..

"Oh and we always tip waiters/waitresses at LEAST 20%.. 15% for bad service.. I was a waiter once, and know how valuable tips are.. I didn't expect my customers to pay for my healthcare and pension (if I had one).."

That is EXACTLY my point.

Likening tipping building staff to tipping restaurant wait staff is absolutely absurd. In New York State, the legal minimum wage for food service workers who get tips is $4.65.

Show me ANY building employee who's making $4.65/hour and I will gladly tip them.

Otherwise, their $40K in salary PLUS health PLUS pension, they can do what the rest of us do when we're not making enough money: FIND ANOTHER JOB, or work a SECOND job.

Sorry, deleted too much above. I mean tot say if they don't like their $40K in salary PLUS health PLUS pension, etc.

Hear, hear!

concur kylewest and can we put this thread to bed for at least another 10.5 months? tips are for those in the service industry, not union employees with robust benes, vakay and probably old fashioned traditional pension plans, everyone remember those? ditto for the Post Office drones holding everyone's mail hostage.