Holiday Tipping: Who And How Much

Holiday tipping. Who do you tip, and how much?

My parents had the same mail person and trash collectors every week. They would always leave them a tip for the holidays. I rarely see my mail person, or sanitation workers. and when I do, they are different all the time. So I never know. Who do you tip for the holidays?

Of course, anytime is a good time to show appreciation to someone who makes your life a little easier. And the holidays are when we're truly in the spirit of giving, and want to show our gratitude.

Tipping is never mandatory - although in some industries it probably should be. And living in Las Vegas, it's a way of life! But giving someone a little something extra this time of year sure means a lot, and goes a long way in putting a smile on their face.

Some say it depends on the relationship, and how often you see them, or deal with them. Others say a holiday tip, or gift, should absolutely be given to anyone you do business with regularly. Hair stylists, babysitters, gardeners and landscapers. housekeepers, etc. But this can definitely get pricey.

It is important to tip caregivers. They are important to many families daily lives, and it's good to show them how much they are appreciated for going above and beyond every day. It's a tough job, and can often go unappreciated - so appreciate them!

There's a list of people you will have to use your own judgement for. And it doesn't always have to be monetary. It could be homemade. Cookies, snacks, a framed photo - something from the heart.

Hairstylists, dog groomers, the rule of thumb is an amount that is equivalent of a visit. Trash collectors, make sure you give whatever amount to all of them. Mail person, same. Delivery drivers, if you can catch them, a a few bucks, a five - they are VERY busy this time of year.

Your favorite etiquette expert, Emily Post, has a lot of advice on holiday tipping. But again, remember - tipping is at your discretion.

I'm sure you're tipping your favorite bartender, or server, pretty regularly as it is - especially in Las Vegas. But I'm sure they'd appreciate any extra, anytime!

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Tipping has gotten out of control - even in Las Vegas, which is considered a tipping city.

If you feel like you’re being asked to tip just about everywhere you go these days, you are not alone. In addition to those traditional establishments and businesses — restaurants, barber shops, Uber and Lyft — customers are being prompted to tip everywhere, from convenience store counters to self-checkout kiosks at airports. And it's gotten out of hand.

Las Vegas is the land of tipping. Servers, bartenders dealers, valet, bell desk, concierge - it's non-stop!

Etiquette experts Like Thomas Farley — who is known as Mister Manners — are calling it “tipflation.” Farley says that people are really feeling imposed upon. We’re  through very inflationary times. Everything is very expensive. And on top of that, you’re being asked every time you turn around, ‘How much would you like to tip?’

So put your wallet away, and take notice of these five people and scenarios that don’t require a tip.

As a blanket rule, you don’t need to tip anyone who earns a salary or performs a trade. That means you don’t have to tip doctors, lawyers, teachers, plumbers or cable techs. Not only would it not be expected, it would be highly unorthodox and very awkward.  Plus, in certain situations, it could be seen as attempting to get some sort of favor or that it might be some sort of a bribe.

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As a rule, anyone working at a counter is earning a wage, while those delivering food, either to your table or to your home, rely on tips as a major part of their income. Tipping people who work behind a counter, such as a barista or a cashier, is not a requirement as far as etiquette experts are concerned — even if that tablet suggests otherwise.  But when they turn that device around, it’s this glaring thing, and people feel shamed into tipping,  That’s not to say a tip for a counter worker is out of the question, and isn't a nice gesture.  If you frequent the place regularly, and they have your order memorized, then go for it!

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If you go to an event with an open bar, the bar staff may or may not put out a tip jar. But s a rule of thumb,  the host of that event has likely already taken care of the tip. It would be included in what they’ve had to pay for the venue or bartending service. This means you’re not obligated to tip, too. It is, of course, appreciated  and may help get you better service throughout the night.  Now, if they give you a heavier pour., a buck or two isn’t much to ask.

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You don’t have to tip twice for the same service. Like the your nail girl, who you tipped, but had to pay at the counter, and were prompted to tip again. Sorry, but that's just the business trying to get more money out of you! The situation is a little trickier in cities that have implemented minimum wage requirements for tipped workers, such as restaurant servers. Some restaurants in these cities will apply a 20% service charge to your bill before giving you with the option to tip. In those situations, it's ok to discreetly ask your server where the fee is going. If it goes to the servers, bussers and so forth, you don't have to tip again. If the money goes to the house, you’ll want to leave a tip for the server who took care of you. From an etiquette standpoint, we still tip the servers who are bringing us our food,  but you don't have to do 20% on top of 20%!

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You’re never obligated to tip someone for poor service or if you’ve had a rude interaction with them. In the case of a one-on-one service, such as a haircut, this is pretty cut and dried. In fact, if they ruined your hair, they don’t deserve a tip, and you probably need a refund. In the case of a restaurant, it gets a little trickier. Use a sliding scale for restaurant tipping, with 20% as the standard, and more if a server goes above and beyond. Even with bad service, you shouldn’t go lower than 10%, because often the server is not at fault. If the food took too long to come out, that’s a kitchen issue. If it wasn’t made properly, that’s a kitchen issue. A bad interaction with a server, you may not tip much, but be sure to bring it up with management. That way they’ll know you weren’t just a jerk.

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