Holiday Tipping Etiquette

December 3, 2015
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tipping_uberMany people in the service industry count on holiday tips. Below is a guideline on who to tip and how much you should give them. If you’re deciding between money and a present, it might help to know most people prefer the cash. However, if you cannot afford to give each person money, If you want to give but are too strapped to afford it, Emily Post recommends one of the following:

 

  • A holiday card with a handwritten note. A warm thanks is appropriate, and you can touch on why your tip is smaller or nonexistent. “You don’t want them to think the lack of a tip is a reflection on their service,” Post says. “You can say, ‘Thank you so much for all you’ve done. It’s been a terribly difficult year, and we’re looking forward to resuming our holiday tips when things improve.'”
  • Handmade gifts or treats. A plate full of holiday cookies or candy is a low-cost way to express your appreciation. “One evening of baking can produce a dozen or a dozen and a half cookies for each (recipient),” Post says.

Also think about:

  • Prioritize your most important service providers. If someone’s work makes your life dramatically better, that person should be at the top of your holiday tipping list. The trusted house cleaner, the hairdresser who fits you in at the last minute and the baby sitter who always does a great job tending your kids should get more of your holiday tipping resources than service providers you use infrequently.
  • Don’t skimp on your employees. If you have household workers, such as a nanny, a housekeeper or a caretaker for an elderly relative, Post cautions against forgoing holiday bonuses if at all possible. The holiday bonus is often considered part of the employee’s compensation, Post notes. It all depends on your past practices, what’s customary in your area and what you promised when you hired the person, of course, but withholding or shortchanging the bonus could be considered a cut in pay and you could wind up losing a valued worker because of it.
  • Tip strategically. If you live in a building with a doorman, superintendent or both, failing to tip can lead — unfortunately — to bad service. The higher the customary tip, the less likely a plate of cookies will cut it. Talk to your neighbors to see what the going rate is and try to come close to that figure to make sure your packages still get delivered and your friends can get into the building.
  • It’s OK to consider need. The lower-paid the worker, the more holiday tips are likely to be appreciated — and the bigger impact your gift can have. Your tip to a manicurist or gardener may be a bigger deal than the same-sized token to a package-delivery person.
  • If you tip generously all year, you can skimp a bit. A smaller tip or a modest gift at the holidays is fine.
  • A note should accompany any tip. Your message doesn’t have to be elaborate, but should include a couple of sentences thanking the person for his or her good work and wishing a happy holiday.

Below are rough guidelines on holiday tipping etiquette that you can adapt to your budget and local custom:

 

Recipient

Guideline

Babysitter

One evening’s pay, plus a gift from your child

Barber

Cost of one haircut

Beauty salon staff

Half the cost of one haircut

Bus Driver

$10 individual or more for collective gift from group

Day care provider

A gift from you, or $25 to $70, plus a gift from your child

Dog walker

Up to one week’s pay or a gift

Doorman

$15 to $80 or a gift ($15 each for multiple doormen)

Garage attendants

$10 to $30 or a small gift

Gardeners

$20 to $50 each

Handyman

$15 to $40

Housekeeper

Up to one week’s pay and/or a small gift

Live-in help

One week to one month’s pay, plus a gift from you

Mail carrier

Gift worth less than $20; no cash, check or gift cards

Massage therapist

Up to the cost of one session or a gift

Nanny or au pair

One week’s pay, plus a gift from your child

Newspaper deliverer

$10 to $30 or a small gift

 

Want more information on holiday tipping etiquette? Click HERE to watch my Fox News Segment today on holiday tipping.

 

If you are looking for an etiquette class for you, your children, or work associates, please contact me at aimee@finesseworldwide.com or go to www.finesseworldwide.com.

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