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Let me begin here by saying that I hate tipping. Having lived 10 years in Japan where there is absolutely no tipping for anything, every time I come back to the US I cringe at the thought of having to figure out how much I should tip and who I should tip.
I could take the approach of one of my friends that simply refuses to tip. She takes the philosophy that you are paying for the service and that is all you need to pay (note: she was a waitress for a long time). I know, however, that many industries underpay their staff with the knowledge that tips should make up for that so I'm not sure that refusing to tip is a solution that I want to take.
Doing a bit of research on tipping came up with some interesting numbers. A recent survey from <a href="http://www.payscale.com/">PayScale.com</a>, not surprisingly, shows that waiters and waitresses earn more than half their income from tips. You may be surprised, however, at how much tips account for a variety of professions:
<ul><li> Tips account for about 21% of a Barista's income and on average will boost it from $8.12 an hour to $10.35 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 16% of a casino change booth cashier's income and on average will boost it from $12.31 an hour to $14.73 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 81% of a casino dealer's income and on average will boost it from $7.55 an hour to $40.20 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 5% of a nanny's income and on average will boost it from $10.54 an hour to $11.09 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 16% of a baby sitter's income and on average will boost it from $6.52 an hour to $7.77 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 41.5% of a rabbi's income and on average will boost it from $43.27 an hour to $74.00 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 23% of a ministry pastor's income and on average will boost it from $21.62 an hour to $28.18 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 67% of a manicurist's income and on average will boost it from $11.70 an hour to $32.70 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 21% of a barber's income and on average will boost it from $12.95 an hour to $16.50 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 42% of a hair stylist's income and on average will boost it from $13.95 an hour to $24.00 an hour. (hair stylists also have the opportunity to earn more with commissions on sales)</li>
<li> Tips account for about 45% of a bellhop's income and on average will boost it from $9.13 an hour to $16.83 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 37% of a bellhop supervisor's income and on average will boost it from $8.50 an hour to $13.50 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 52% of a hotel room service clerk's income and on average will boost it from $5.48 an hour to $11.91 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 43% of a hotel desk staff's income and on average will boost it from $14.87 an hour to $22.44 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 10% of a dog groomer's income and on average will boost it from $11.73 an hour to $13.15 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 31% of a chauffeur's income and on average will boost it from $11.47 an hour to $16.78 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 19% of a massage therapist's income and on average will boost it from $33.00 an hour to $41.00 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 22% of a esthetician's income and on average will boost it from $15.00 an hour to $19.25 an hour. </li></ul>
Knowing that these workers in the service industry rely a great deal on their tips for their income, the question still is how much should you actually tip? While ultimately you have to use your own judgement, this is what PayScale recommends:
<blockquote><i><b>Nannies, Babysitters, Maids, Yard Workers, etc</b>
Consider giving the pay for one week, day or evening of work or simply give an extra generous tip. For live-in help, a month’s pay plus a small gift is appropriate
<b>Barbers, Hairstylists, Massage therapists, etc</b>
Consider giving the cost of one service or simply tipping a little more around the holidays.
<b>Teachers, Sports Coaches, Nursing Home Employees etc</b>
Small gifts like cookies, candles and decorative soap can go a long way and anything too impressive might be misunderstood as a bribe. A great gift for a teacher is a gift card for buying classroom supplies.
<b>Letter Carrier, Garbage Collector, Package Deliverer, etc</b>
Depending on how frequently you use a service, choosing a number between $10 and $30 that feels right is always a safe bet.
<b>Casino Dealers, Hotel Staff, Luxury Cruise Staff, Valet Parking, etc</b>
For parking and services, anywhere from $5 to $20 can be appropriate based on the environment. For betting, place a bet for the dealer about once an hour and let them “ride your coattails.” You’ll also want to give the casino cashier a percentage of your winnings.
<b>Religious Leaders</b>
Known as an honorarium rather than a tip, there is no specific range set as to how you should give gifts to religious leaders. You might want to find out if there are specific expectations in your congregation, ask others what they’re giving or just give what feels right to you. You can also give donations to a favorite organization or charity in place of cash.</blockquote></i>
As with most things concerning money, it's best to come up with a system you feel comfortable with well before the situation arises. If you don't have a plan ahead of time, you will likely end up giving more or less than you intended due to having to make a decision at the spur of the moment. Having a plan also will mean you won't be second guessing about the tip you made hours after it was given.
While I truly wish the US would adopt a Japanese style system where tips are included in all service rendered, it isn't going to happen. I guess that means I need to start laying out my tipping strategy. Anyone have one I can borrow?
I could take the approach of one of my friends that simply refuses to tip. She takes the philosophy that you are paying for the service and that is all you need to pay (note: she was a waitress for a long time). I know, however, that many industries underpay their staff with the knowledge that tips should make up for that so I'm not sure that refusing to tip is a solution that I want to take.
Doing a bit of research on tipping came up with some interesting numbers. A recent survey from <a href="http://www.payscale.com/">PayScale.com</a>, not surprisingly, shows that waiters and waitresses earn more than half their income from tips. You may be surprised, however, at how much tips account for a variety of professions:
<ul><li> Tips account for about 21% of a Barista's income and on average will boost it from $8.12 an hour to $10.35 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 16% of a casino change booth cashier's income and on average will boost it from $12.31 an hour to $14.73 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 81% of a casino dealer's income and on average will boost it from $7.55 an hour to $40.20 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 5% of a nanny's income and on average will boost it from $10.54 an hour to $11.09 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 16% of a baby sitter's income and on average will boost it from $6.52 an hour to $7.77 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 41.5% of a rabbi's income and on average will boost it from $43.27 an hour to $74.00 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 23% of a ministry pastor's income and on average will boost it from $21.62 an hour to $28.18 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 67% of a manicurist's income and on average will boost it from $11.70 an hour to $32.70 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 21% of a barber's income and on average will boost it from $12.95 an hour to $16.50 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 42% of a hair stylist's income and on average will boost it from $13.95 an hour to $24.00 an hour. (hair stylists also have the opportunity to earn more with commissions on sales)</li>
<li> Tips account for about 45% of a bellhop's income and on average will boost it from $9.13 an hour to $16.83 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 37% of a bellhop supervisor's income and on average will boost it from $8.50 an hour to $13.50 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 52% of a hotel room service clerk's income and on average will boost it from $5.48 an hour to $11.91 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 43% of a hotel desk staff's income and on average will boost it from $14.87 an hour to $22.44 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 10% of a dog groomer's income and on average will boost it from $11.73 an hour to $13.15 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 31% of a chauffeur's income and on average will boost it from $11.47 an hour to $16.78 an hour.</li>
<li> Tips account for about 19% of a massage therapist's income and on average will boost it from $33.00 an hour to $41.00 an hour. </li>
<li> Tips account for about 22% of a esthetician's income and on average will boost it from $15.00 an hour to $19.25 an hour. </li></ul>
Knowing that these workers in the service industry rely a great deal on their tips for their income, the question still is how much should you actually tip? While ultimately you have to use your own judgement, this is what PayScale recommends:
<blockquote><i><b>Nannies, Babysitters, Maids, Yard Workers, etc</b>
Consider giving the pay for one week, day or evening of work or simply give an extra generous tip. For live-in help, a month’s pay plus a small gift is appropriate
<b>Barbers, Hairstylists, Massage therapists, etc</b>
Consider giving the cost of one service or simply tipping a little more around the holidays.
<b>Teachers, Sports Coaches, Nursing Home Employees etc</b>
Small gifts like cookies, candles and decorative soap can go a long way and anything too impressive might be misunderstood as a bribe. A great gift for a teacher is a gift card for buying classroom supplies.
<b>Letter Carrier, Garbage Collector, Package Deliverer, etc</b>
Depending on how frequently you use a service, choosing a number between $10 and $30 that feels right is always a safe bet.
<b>Casino Dealers, Hotel Staff, Luxury Cruise Staff, Valet Parking, etc</b>
For parking and services, anywhere from $5 to $20 can be appropriate based on the environment. For betting, place a bet for the dealer about once an hour and let them “ride your coattails.” You’ll also want to give the casino cashier a percentage of your winnings.
<b>Religious Leaders</b>
Known as an honorarium rather than a tip, there is no specific range set as to how you should give gifts to religious leaders. You might want to find out if there are specific expectations in your congregation, ask others what they’re giving or just give what feels right to you. You can also give donations to a favorite organization or charity in place of cash.</blockquote></i>
As with most things concerning money, it's best to come up with a system you feel comfortable with well before the situation arises. If you don't have a plan ahead of time, you will likely end up giving more or less than you intended due to having to make a decision at the spur of the moment. Having a plan also will mean you won't be second guessing about the tip you made hours after it was given.
While I truly wish the US would adopt a Japanese style system where tips are included in all service rendered, it isn't going to happen. I guess that means I need to start laying out my tipping strategy. Anyone have one I can borrow?
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