Tipping hotel housekeeper

[kenny]

So I guess I should mail a few bucks to the assembly line worker who laced up my tennis shoes in China.
How bout the crew members on the ship that brought my shoes to USA? It's not nice or fair to stiff them.
How about the miners who extracted the raw materials to make my shoes?

I have more money than others so that should guilt me into giving extra money directly to every employee who contributed to every product or service I enjoy?
Why only tip the employees I come face to face with?
That's not nice to the zillions I never see who contribute something to my life but are paid less than I.

 

[OreoRosies86]

So I guess I should mail a few bucks to the assembly line worker who laced up my tennis shoes in China.
How bout the crew members on the ship that brought my shoes to USA? It's not nice or fair to stiff them.
How about the miners who extracted the raw materials to make my shoes?

I have more money than others so that should guilt me into giving extra money directly to every employee who contributed to every product or service I enjoy?
Why only tip the employees I come face to face with?
That's not nice to the zillions I never see who contribute something to my life but are paid less than I.

Do you feel guilty? If not, what does it matter what others choose to do with their cash

 

[kenny]

So I guess I should mail a few bucks to the assembly line worker who laced up my tennis shoes in China.
How bout the crew members on the ship that brought my shoes to USA? It's not nice or fair to stiff them.
How about the miners who extracted the raw materials to make my shoes?

I have more money than others so that should guilt me into giving extra money directly to every employee who contributed to every product or service I enjoy?
Why only tip the employees I come face to face with?
That's not nice to the zillions I never see who contribute something to my life but are paid less than I.

Do you feel guilty? If not, what does it matter what others choose to do with their cash

Singling out and tipping only a few of the workers, from whom's work you benefit, does not make any sense and isn't fair.

Me thinks tipping is as much if not more about making the tipper feel good than the tippee.
That's not pure generosity; it's selfishness.
I love some of the things that Ayn Rand had to say about altruism.

But I do tip at a restaurant.
It's stupid, I resent it, but I do it.
I guess I'm a hypocrite.

 

[OreoRosies86]

I see it as a problem with what we call living wages more than anything else. People resent tipping, but they would also resent paying $42 for a hamburger

Well, if the worst thing I have done is tip a chambermaid out of some selfish impulse, that is ok too!

 

[kenny]

I see it as a problem with what we call living wages more than anything else. People resent tipping, but they would also resent paying $42 for a hamburger

The hamburger would only cost 17% more.

I agree the problem is businesses paying low wages.
But then nobody is holding a gun to the head of worker taking lower-paying jobs.
Those workers share some of the blame for not getting better-educated.

This isn't communism.
We like free-market capitalism, but then expect government to have minimum wages, but then consumers vote with their wallets because they want the lowest prices.

It's all a war, a war of selfishness … kind of like animals competing to survive in the wilderness.

 

[OreoRosies86]

But then nobody is holding a gun to the head of worker taking lower-paying jobs



I would love to see a spinoff thread here (don't want to threadjack). I won't start it though, as I am at a total loss.

 

[katharath]

Wow, I'm so surprised at this thread! I'm on the younger side (34), but was I taught by my mother to always tip for maid service. I live in Vegas, where tipping is a pretty big thing, but I'm from Texas, and this has always been a custom I follow.

I don't tip huge amounts and of course we've never trashed a room, but $2-3 a night is appropriate at most hotels/casinos here that we would stay in (basically the nicer ones). For longer hotel stays (more than 1-2 nights), it's generally understood that you very possibly won't have the same person clean your room every day, so that's why it's good to tip per night stayed rather than at the end of the entire stay. That way the person who is actually cleaning your room gets the tip, not just the person who happens to clean up at the end of your stay. The best way to tip is just to leave a few singles on a nightstand or similar spot, next to a note with a simple "thank you ", so that the staff knows it's for them. Also, in many hotels, in the room there will be a specific envelope that you can leave money in, just for the maid (it usually has a generic printed message on it specifying what it is for).

I don't tip for *everything*, but I do consider myself fairly well versed about when tipping is appropriate and how much should be left. Tipping hotel maid staff is just something I personally consider to be almost as "required" as tipping servers.

It is interesting to see how other people do things though. Since I'm in Vegas, I have friends come to town fairly frequently. I have been very surprised at how some of my close friends just don't have a clue about when to tip or not. I actually got into a "thing" with two friends when they didn't want to tip the valet, or the bellman, OR the maid...it was ridiculous to me. (They also thought that 10% was a perfectly fine tip for restaurant servers, even though we got good service). I was embarrassed at their behavior, especially bc the casino we were staying at is somewhere that my family is known at, since we frequent it. I ended up tipping everyone to make up for their negligence during their stay. We discussed it when I expressed my surprise, and they resolutely refused to tip, so I did it for them. Both of these friends are from a certain state which is somewhat well known for tipping poorly, so I've wondered if this is why they are like that...??

It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine, I suppose - sorry to go off

 

[smitcompton]

Hi All,


For interest sake I calculated what the maid would mke if everyone followed the 10.00 a nite tip. 16 x10--160.00 x 20 days per month=$3,200 per month x 12 =38,400 - tips for yr. Base pay Lowest 10.00 per hr. =400.00 per week x 52= 20,800 per yr

$20,800 +38,400= $59,200 total yearly wage. Not bad.


Annette

 

[kenny]

But then nobody is holding a gun to the head of worker taking lower-paying jobs



I would love to see a spinoff thread here (don't want to threadjack). I won't start it though, as I am at a total loss.

Apparently you think everyone is entitled to a high-paying job.

 

[OreoRosies86]

But then nobody is holding a gun to the head of worker taking lower-paying jobs



I would love to see a spinoff thread here (don't want to threadjack). I won't start it though, as I am at a total loss.

Apparently you think everyone is entitled to a high-paying job.

Sorry not taking the drama bait, but if there is a spinoff I would be very interested to read and learn!

 

[MollyMalone]

Hi All,
For interest sake I calculated what the maid would mke if everyone followed the 10.00 a nite tip. 16 x10--160.00 x 20 days per month=$3,200 per month x 12 =38,400 - tips for yr. Base pay Lowest 10.00 per hr. =400.00 per week x 52= 20,800 per yr
$20,800 +38,400= $59,200 total yearly wage. Not bad.
Annette

I'm honestly not sure I'd be tipping $5-10-20/night if others were not, as is happening now, leaving zippo or $1-2/night -- which is what my parents left for hotel maids friggin' 40 years ago. fyi: the lowest base pay for hotel maids is minimum wage, not $10/hour; both bellhops and doormen receive higher wages for easier work (this came as a surprise to my son when he was at NYU's Tisch School for Hospitality-Tourism Management)

 

[charleston1]

We always tip the hotel maid $5 per night. Turn down service $1 or $2. We never leave a mess. I clean my house and I know how time consuming it is and I could not walk away without tipping the maid. I find it strange people automatically tip the bartender when they get a drink, but don't always tip the hotel maid. It takes much longer to clean a hotel room than to make a drink or two.

We leave the money on the pillow.

If we are in a city that we used public transit and we have leftover tokens, we leave those on the pillow in addition to the $5 tip.

We have no use of the tokens but figure the person who lives in the city probably can use them. Same goes for extra coins of the country if it is our last night in that country.

 

[ming]

I tip $2 each AM and $3 if I am checking out. Sometimes a bit more if I have made more of a mess.

 

[aljdewey]

Apparently you think everyone is entitled to a high-paying job.

And apparently, you think everyone actually has the same opportunities to education or higher-paying jobs. If only that were so.

The most humbling experience I ever had came very early in my career. I was 22, and I had a position in outside sales - a pretty lofty position to have secured by that age. I felt pretty full of myself and felt like I deserved my success because I'd worked hard for it.

In my company-issued car (which I could use personally too, so I didn't even need to own a car), I drove to a little town in central Maine to call on a client, a traffic manager at the local woolen mill. As I sat in the waiting room for my client, two guys about my age came in. They asked the receptionist for job applications and sat down near me to complete them. I heard one of them saying to the other how much it would transform his life to secure a job there.......a job busting his ass in a textile mill that paid barely above minimum wage (and this was almost 30 years ago, so min. wage was somewhere in the $5ish range, I think.)

THAT was the moment that I got over myself and realized that while I did make the most of my opportunities, I was only able to do so because I had access to them in the first place. There are SCORES of people who would be willing to work equally hard but who don't have the access to opportunities to capitalize on.

Drive down the street someday in Gary, Indiana......like I did last year during a business trip. The sheer blight and destitution is overwhelming - it's like a ghost town with no one out and about and businesses boarded over or covered with heavy bars. I cannot imagine how anyone finds hope coming from there and many other town like it.

Yes, some people can scratch their way out of that, and it makes for a lovely, heartwarming story when you read about them. But it's a fantasy to think that's possible for absolutely everybody - there are simply far more people than opportunities to go around, and some people who work really hard still can't get to them. Those are the people who have to take whatever they can to get by, including those hotel maid jobs.

You are right - that doesn't make it our responsibility to cover it, and those who already sleep well at night in looking out only for themselves and congratulating themselves for their hard work have no reason to do anything more.

I feel differently. I do find tremendous value in having compassion for people who are doing hard work for very little, and I don't mind giving a sum that means so little to me but means SO much to someone else. If the day ever comes when I don't have what I need, I may have to make different choices, but for as long as I have more than I need, I do it gladly and not out of a sense of obligation.

 

[OreoRosies86]

Nicely stated, Aljdewey.

I say this as someone who has been dirt poor and is now planning purchases on a diamond forum.

 

[JulieN]

Housekeepers are probably the the most disadvantaged people to work in hospitality, they are almost all minority women, it is a double whammy.

Tipping is the norm in the hospitality industry (which includes the food/beverage industry). I figure if I have enough money to go on vacation and stay in a hotel, I can afford a couple of dollars a night.

 

[D&T]

Min wage back then was less than $3. I was making 4.25/hr in 1995. I didn't stay at min. wage for long, I used my skill set, and moved on and got raises. So many people usually wouldn't stay at min wage for 30 yrs. My dad is now retiring from working for the community (when my mom was a housekeeper, he was a dishwasher) I'm super proud of him- raising three kids all of us being refugees, although he is retiring at age 70 making 55k. I make a lot more than my dad -I took advantage of all that the US had to offer me, education, freedom, and free market and soaked it all in so I am proud that I had a chance to advance my salary and the opportunity that my parents gave me a chance to do better than them. I will continue to tip because Like many of you said, a couple of dollars to me doesn't mean much but to those others it does.

 

[Gypsy]

Hmm. This has been a great discussion.

And actually, the points about how hard the housekeepers work and tipping being the norm in hospitality, plus the reality that people have very different opportunities and that many of the women in hospitality are minorities has changed my mind a bit.

I do tip bellhops and valets at hotels. So... it is weird that I resent tipping housekeepers.

I think maybe it's time to increase my housekeeping tipping amounts. And to do so on a nightly basis, as suggested here.

Thanks everyone. This was a very nice and thought provoking discussion.

 

[missy]

I'm glad that different points of views were shared without bloodshed.

I am content with how my dh and I tip the people we want to tip. For those who questioned the amount we tip- it is not overboard where we live and where we travel and where we stay to tip that much and if we feel good about doing it who's losing here? Nobody.

As others have said the housekeeping staff works hard. Maybe harder than the rest of hotel employees but who's to say. It is our prerogative to tip what we want to whom we want and there's no controversy there IMO.

One of the (many) things I have learned from my dh over the years is to give generously to many. Growing up my parents did the same but only when I got older and began living on my own and working for a living did I internalize those qualities and being with my dh has cemented them in permanently.

Unfortunately we cannot give to everyone in need (sorry Kenny but since we don't have limitless cash flow- but if we did...) so we give to those people we feel work hard for us and for those charities near and dear to us. We all have to decide for ourselves what we feel good about doing and I am glad this discussion opened up the dialogue for different points of views to be shared in an open and (almost) judgment free environment.

And thanks about the advice to give every day vs at the end of your stay. Good point as I thought that housekeeping staff shared tips and now I realize it is better to give each day vs at the end.

 

[Sakuracherry]

Housekeepers are probably the the most disadvantaged people to work in hospitality, they are almost all minority women, it is a double whammy.

Tipping is the norm in the hospitality industry (which includes the food/beverage industry). I figure if I have enough money to go on vacation and stay in a hotel, I can afford a couple of dollars a night.

Very well said, Julie. When I moved here and didn't speak English, there were not many jobs I could take. I worked as a housekeeper/nanny for a few years until I learned to speak enough English. Many of my classmates from community college worked dead end jobs. I think this is the reason I tip well everywhere.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I don't often travel to hotels, usually cruises. I always tip on the cruises following the cruise tip line and some extra if earned (which it usually is, they tend to be wonderful). In the past traveling to hotels I have never tipped since usually it is only for one or two nights but in the future I will. Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

 

[aljdewey]

For interest sake I calculated what the maid would make if everyone followed the 10.00 a nite tip. 16 x10--160.00 x 20 days per month=$3,200 per month x 12 =38,400 - tips for yr. Base pay Lowest 10.00 per hr. =400.00 per week x 52= 20,800 per yr

$20,800 +38,400= $59,200 total yearly wage. Not bad.

So a few interesting things about the above math.

1. It's clear the calculation is based on 52 weeks a year, which I guess means we don't think this person deserves a week or two off like the rest of us? That's sad, truthfully. I guess they never get sick or have kids sick at home either?

2. I'd guess the $10/night tip presumed would fly only in major metropolitan cities where the room rate is also healthy. Anyone want to hazard a guess what average rent/COL tends to run in those major cities? SF? Bay Area? Boston? Washington, DC? NYC? Chicago?
Let me flat out assure you - $59K wouldn't necessarily go a long way in most of those areas. I'm guessing the $10 tip isn't as prevalent in Nebraska or Kansas (no offense to either).

3. Why in the world would anyone assume in any calculation that everybody tips? (Especially when so many here have said they don't?). We absolutely know that's not true in any other service industry, right? Waiters/waitresses complain all the time about non-tippers, and their industry is considered tip-worthy more than most.

Let's rerun that math at the average tip of $2 a night, still assuming everyone would tip (which is ludricrous) and assuming no vacation:

16 X $2 = $32; $32 x 20 days/month = $640 month; 12 months @ $640/month = $7,680 in tips annual. BIG difference, yes? When added to $20,800 base, that's still under $30K a year *before* taxes. And this assumes no time off *and* everyone tipping $2.

Suffice it to say we could probably interview thousands of hotel workers before even being able to find anyone who clears even close to $59K a year.

But even if we could, I can't understand why it would matter what their annual salary was? Is there some reason they should be held down below a certain salary level if they work hard? Is the service they provide to us any less worthy if they happen to do well? I know I certainly expect to be compensated for performing well, and I can't imagine why they shouldn't be also. But again, the reality is that most people in that industry don't make anywhere near that - most are truly paycheck-to-paycheck.

 

[VapidLapid]

I waited tables here in nyc for many years. My paycheck was always $0.00, and did not even cover my taxes. I still owed over 4k a year over that! I tip the housekeeper $3-5 per night. I tip the cab driver 20% generally. Having none, I don't know much about hair, but a friend of mine who cuts it says she does complimentary bang trim and touch ups, and usually gets a $20 tip for those.

 

[ming]

Hmm. This has been a great discussion.

And actually, the points about how hard the housekeepers work and tipping being the norm in hospitality, plus the reality that people have very different opportunities and that many of the women in hospitality are minorities has changed my mind a bit.

I do tip bellhops and valets at hotels. So... it is weird that I resent tipping housekeepers.

I think maybe it's time to increase my housekeeping tipping amounts. And to do so on a nightly basis, as suggested here.

Thanks everyone. This was a very nice and thought provoking discussion.

I hadn't thought about bellhops and valets when I responded but you are right. I think most people generally think it's ok and expected to tip these positions. Maybe because the work they do is visible to everyone meaning you and the people around you. Even when all the bell hop does is go into the closet behind the stand and retrieve my luggage I give a dollar a bag. And thinking about valets and the argument used lately that they are generally younger, college age-ish so don't need as much income we don't hesitate to tip them. Even if they just walk 2 lanes over to move your car.

Think about how much more work goes into tidying up and cleaning up your room.

Darn. Now I'm about to tip the housekeepers much more thinking about it this way.

 

[zoebartlett]

We leave a few bucks in our room each day when we want the room cleaned and/or fresh towels delivered.

I'm not sure what the big deal is to leave a few dollars in your room. Yes, housekeepers are doing their job, but it's hard work and I want to let them know I appreciate it. It makes me happy. Leaving a few dollars isn't a big deal to me, yet I'm sure the housekeepers appreciate the gesture. I don't get the negative attitude towards tipping.

 

[Sparklelu]

Well as for us,we have always tipped at hotels. My husband travels frequently for business and he leaves 2-3 per day. When we are on vacation and when we traveled with kids we tipped a bit more.
These workers are among the least skilled of all workers as someone said, almost universally female, minority and earning at best minimum wage.
while most of us are decent human beings who know how to treat things that are not ours, do you know of the disgusting scenes these folks have to rectify?
I have walked past rooms that held bridesmaid, bachelorette weekends, bachelor parties and grad nights.
Those were disgusting and their housekeeper I'm sure was NOT tipped.
I have stayed in 5 star hotels where the parents of unruly toddlers trashed the carpet in the adjoining room and I actually heard the father say, don't clean that, its the maids job!

Not to mention the occasional dead patron.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/bodybed.asp
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/17/missing-woman-hotel-mattress-tennessee/

 

[Sparklelu]

but I agree with Kenny on the TIP CREEP, I refuse to tip at fast food places,Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or the 7-11! I amazed at where those tip jars show up nowadays. "In New York City, those angling for a handout include bodega cashiers, grocery baggers, dry cleaners and hardware clerks"
I know they are lower paid as well,and the same logic should apply, but I'm not asking them to clean sH*t stains out of the toilet!

 

[mayerling]

Well, in the end I tipped 9 dollars for a 4-night stay. I gave 2 on the second name, and 7 on the last day (I only had 7 and a 10 and I didn't want to leave a 10)...

 

[SMC]

I tip about $5 per night. I leave it under the bed pillow. I thought it was one of those things that everyone did.

 

[Gypsy]

Hmm. This has been a great discussion.

And actually, the points about how hard the housekeepers work and tipping being the norm in hospitality, plus the reality that people have very different opportunities and that many of the women in hospitality are minorities has changed my mind a bit.

I do tip bellhops and valets at hotels. So... it is weird that I resent tipping housekeepers.

I think maybe it's time to increase my housekeeping tipping amounts. And to do so on a nightly basis, as suggested here.

Thanks everyone. This was a very nice and thought provoking discussion.

I hadn't thought about bellhops and valets when I responded but you are right. I think most people generally think it's ok and expected to tip these positions. Maybe because the work they do is visible to everyone meaning you and the people around you. Even when all the bell hop does is go into the closet behind the stand and retrieve my luggage I give a dollar a bag. And thinking about valets and the argument used lately that they are generally younger, college age-ish so don't need as much income we don't hesitate to tip them. Even if they just walk 2 lanes over to move your car.

Think about how much more work goes into tidying up and cleaning up your room.

Darn. Now I'm about to tip the housekeepers much more thinking about it this way.

Exactly Ming. That's right where I am.

I told my husband last night that we're increasing our tip to 5-10 a night. And tipping per night. And then I talked to him about it, and explained pretty much what you wrote, and he agreed.

Not that we stay in hotels often. I don't care to stay at them. Too afraid of bed bugs.

Plus vacations are not in our near future.

But still... it's good to know!