[redwitch]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Call me Scrooge but I never have tipped mail employees or sanitation workers. Unless these workers are going out of their way for me I believe they dont deserve a tip. I have in the past tipped UPS workers who have had to make an exceptional number of deliveries or pickups.

Do you tip police or fireman? They are providing us as valuable a service as sanitiona and postal employees.?

Police and fire personnel make a lot more than sanitation workers or our contract mail people. So, no, I don't tip them but I do drop a plate of goodies, which seem to have always been appreciated. The mail people bid on their jobs. Sadly, they usually make below minimum wage. Sanitation workers here actually make a semi-decent wage but not enough for the thankless job they do.

I don't see it so much as a tip but more of a way to thank these people and let them know their appreciated. And don't forget your paper delivery person!

[retiredguy123]

In my opinion, it is totally absurd to tip a federal employee or a federal contractor. I was a federal employee for 35 years, including 15 years as an Inspector General responsible for uncovering Government waste. No problem doing that! I know first hand that federal employees and contractors are grossly overpaid and underworked, and that includes me. The only complaint that my supervisors had of me was that I worked too fast and made my fellow employees look bad.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

In my opinion, it is totally absurd to tip a federal employee or a federal contractor. I was a federal employee for 35 years, including 15 years as an Inspector General responsible for uncovering Government waste. No problem doing that! I know first hand that federal employees and contractors are grossly overpaid and underworked, and that includes me. The only complaint that my supervisors had of me was that I worked too fast and made my fellow employees look bad.

And thank you for your service! I bet your union wasn't happy either.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

$20 for the contract mail people, $20 for Daily Sun delivery, $20 for recycle crew and $40 for the refuse crew.

Agree although we tip the recycle guys the same....seems we end up with more recycle than refuse.

[Madelaine Amee]

At one time in my life, many years ago, I relied on tips to keep body and soul together. Now that I am able to do so, I always thank the people who make my life easier with a monetary gift.

I guess I am a sucker, I cannot walk past anyone needing a helping hand, but don't try to con me!

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

I guess I am a sucker, I cannot walk past anyone needing a helping hand, but don't try to con me!

Same here.

If you approach me and ask...you're most likely not getting anything.

If you're off to the side sitting and minding your own business, with a look that says you have had better days, then I am likely to walk a few steps out of my way to put a couple of bills in your hand.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by mokey

I have some trouble with it as they are in that nice cooled and heated building slipping your mail in a slot. On the other hand the trash men are out in rain, heat and cold and no one gives them a thought.

Our mail person goes above and beyond to make deliveries, pick up Priority Mail from our front door, and delivers boxes and shipping supplies. As far as the heated and cooled building, the mail doesn't get in there by itself. Our mail persons personal vehicle (minivan) is often packed to the gills with mail and boxes, which she has to unload. Trust me, she's not sitting in their enjoying the cool air. We've given a Starbucks gift card in the past. This year will be Panera.

[outlaw]

I always tip my neighbors' lawn maintenance crews because they make my neighborhood look nice.

[ghoffman]

Originally Posted by jibuck

USPS mail carriers are federal employees and as a result are prohibited from accepting any cash or cash equivalent items such as a gift card from any customer. Homemade treats, however, would be an acceptable gift.

This post is not correct. The mail carriers that service The Villages postal stations are not USPS employees. They are employees of the subcontractor that has the contract to deliver the mail. They get no benefits and must pay for the people who cover them when they take a day off!

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Call me Scrooge ......
Do you tip fireman? They are providing us as valuable a service as sanitiona and postal employees.?

Have you ever spoken at length to the young people who man our fire stations here in TV? They change my smoke alarm batteries and my other half has stood and talked to them at length. They make diddly, maybe not that much, I do not know how they survive.

So, yes, we do show our appreciation to the youngsters in the Fire Department, not with money because it is not allowed, but we have provided lunch, cookies and other "fattening things" from time to time.

[plrbr1120]

Have a great mail carrier. Give her cash. Also the garbage collectors, recycle pick up and lawn maintenance people. Nothing yet to yard waste collectors as have not put anything out for them to pick up since we've been here. When paying for our newspaper renewal, do add in a tip.

[Abigal]

Yes you can tip highway contractors as they are independent carriers and not considered USPS workers although they do delivery mail and packages to your home when there are not enough parcel
parcel lockers.
The sanitation workers: I wait for the truck to come down the road in the am and hand the envelope to the driver.
Merry Christmas.
When you get an email saying your package has arrived lease do not let it sit in a locker for days. This is a very busy season and the post office delivers thousands of packages in The Villages.

[Harry Gilbert]

From the USPS website:


Employee Tipping and Gift-Receiving Policy

All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Exec*utive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period.

[redwitch]

Again, our mail people are NOT federal employees. They are private subcontractors and, as such, are not subject to the federal gratuity rules. The general contractor may make good money, but our mail people do not. Frequently, especially on Mondays and after a holiday, they end up making less than minimum wage for that day. They use their personal vehicles. They lift heavy loads on a daily basis. They will stop what they are doing to answer your questions. And so in and so forth. Personally, I think our mail carriers do exceptional work and deserve every extra dollar we give them.

I wouldn't want to do either the mail carriers' nor the sanitation workers' jobs. Ditto the lawn employees (the owners do make a pretty decent income but their employees are at minimum wage or less). So, for those who want and can afford it, tip away. For those who can't, have no fear, these folks will still take good care of you. For those of you who just won't, well ......

[Bonnevie]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

In my opinion, it is totally absurd to tip a federal employee or a federal contractor. I was a federal employee for 35 years, including 15 years as an Inspector General responsible for uncovering Government waste. No problem doing that! I know first hand that federal employees and contractors are grossly overpaid and underworked, and that includes me. The only complaint that my supervisors had of me was that I worked too fast and made my fellow employees look bad.

I take offense at that. While there are bad employees there, there was also plenty of people who worked hard and did more than their share. I used to say if you had a work ethic and a conscience you killed yourself working at the VA. I also said it rewarded mediocrity because certain people were never asked to do more. But to make that sweeping a generalization is unfair.