Mousekeeping Tipping Question

[FlameGirl]

If you read my pervious posts. Even at top end hotels like a Ritz tipping is not and was not common.

Also I've known people who worked in housekeeping. The rate of thier pay way always proportional to the room rates of the hotels. 2 star was getting minimum wage, 3 star about a dollar more, 4 star about 3 dollars more, and 5 star was getting about twice minimum wage.

Consider this before you pitty the low wages of housekeepers. Where else can someone get a job, with no previous working experience, little education and not know the native laungage but still make twice minimum wage?

Oh please. The data available for salary averages doesn't support your friend's claim, at all. If you don't want to tip, don't tip. But your implication that maids in the hospitality industry are somehow, miraculously making twice the minimum wage is insulting. Even if that were true, how many 5 star hotels are around DLR? You don't feel the need to tip, fine. In the mean time, I will go ahead and take "pitty" on these people picking up garbage, cleaning up puke and scrubbing toilets and throw them an extra buck or two.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

If you read my pervious posts. Even at top end hotels like a Ritz tipping is not and was not common.

Also I've known people who worked in housekeeping. The rate of thier pay way always proportional to the room rates of the hotels. 2 star was getting minimum wage, 3 star about a dollar more, 4 star about 3 dollars more, and 5 star was getting about twice minimum wage.

Consider this before you pitty the low wages of housekeepers. Where else can someone get a job, with no previous working experience, little education and not know the native laungage but still make twice minimum wage?

Wow.

 

[taaren]

People always get so snippy about tipping and judging other's behavior. The DH and I both worked service-oriented jobs (though mostly untipped positions) when we were younger, so we tend to tip, although sometimes we don't have singles so we don't. No biggie. It would be nice if they gave you the option of tipping on the bill for the hotel the way they do at a restaurant if the hotels really wanted people to tip the service staff.
The problem here is for Americans we need a paradigm shift. We typically expect terrible service because we pay our service workers terribly. Jobs in service are usually considered low-skill so therefore low-paying and we're surprised when we get terrible service. This is why I love travelling in Europe where service is considered to be not something done by teenagers and people who don't have other skills (or actors waiting for their big break in large cities), but rather is done by people who actually enjoy it and so when the tips get built into the bill, you don't mind since, if bad service is given, those people are let go and find jobs that are better suited to their non-service-oriented personalities.

 

[auntiegem]

Oh please. The data available for salary averages doesn't support your friend's claim, at all. If you don't want to tip, don't tip. But your implication that maids in the hospitality industry are somehow, miraculously making twice the minimum wage is insulting. Even if that were true, how many 5 star hotels are around DLR? You don't feel the need to tip, fine. In the mean time, I will go ahead and take "pitty" on these people picking up garbage, cleaning up puke and scrubbing toilets and throw them an extra buck or two.

Amen!!!

 

[jetskigrl]

Here ya go...from Good Housekeeping.com, LOL.

Housekeeper
Makes the beds, cleans up any messes and sometimes turns down sheets.
Tip: $2 per day in a moderate hotel, $3 to $5 per day in a deluxe hotel. (Tipping daily rather than when you check out ensures that the tip will go to the specific person who cleaned your room.)


http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/etiquette/hotel-service-tipping-apr05

This one is interesting too. It says a different way to handle it for multiple night stays:

Travel + Leisure advises you to do so. Always. In the T+L Hotel Tipping Guide, they write:

Recommended amount: $3–$5 a day. Leaving cash on the bedside table is fine for a one-night stay, but it’s likely that several housekeepers will service your room if you stay longer than three days. In that case, put your tip in an envelope and drop it off with the front desk manager at checkout—he or she will be sure to distribute it equally.

 

[awoogala]

This is why I love travelling in Europe where service is considered to be not something done by teenagers and people who don't have other skills (or actors waiting for their big break in large cities), but rather is done by people who actually enjoy it and so when the tips get built into the bill, you don't mind since, if bad service is given, those people are let go and find jobs that are better suited to their non-service-oriented personalities.

Just an "extra" thought on this one: I have worked in service jobs (massage therapy, spa, esthetics), where the spa charged a "service fee" . Most people assumed this was a tip for the worker. Well, the spa got mostof that "fee", (about $15-20 depending on service), but only gave the worker $7. My average tip before that fee was added had been around $15-20, so it was a HUGE pay cut when they implemented this fee.

 

[rainyday77]

I personally hate tipping! If I am paying for a service to start with - meal, hotel, etc. why should I need to subsidize an employees wage while the employer rakes in the money?

I am a counsellor who works with children and youth and no one tips me after completing suicide risk assessments on their children or for helping kids get through their parents separation/divorce. I really don't understand the concept of tipping someone for doing their job, though I realize that this is part of the norm in the U.S. and do so begrudgingly!

 

[starry_solo]

What about tipping while staying at DVC on points? Since mousekeeping doesn't come in daily...what do you do?

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I personally hate tipping! If I am paying for a service to start with - meal, hotel, etc. why should I need to subsidize an employees wage while the employer rakes in the money?

I am a counsellor who works with children and youth and no one tips me after completing suicide risk assessments on their children or for helping kids get through their parents separation/divorce. I really don't understand the concept of tipping someone for doing their job, though I realize that this is part of the norm in the U.S. and do so begrudgingly!

You think you're paying for a service to start with but that's just your view or your preference of the situation. The reality, like it or not, is vastly different. You're really paying for a luxury.

How would you feel if someone said 'who cares about children of dysfunctional families? Let them work out their own issues. Why should any of our tax dollars be put toward this?' You question about not being tipped is out of line as your service is not a discretional expenditure in the least.

It's not apples and apples I realize, but you're opinion only serves to work against the servants not the owners with whom you disagree.

People, people, people, it's only money and you can't take it with you. If you can't afford a few bucks for housekeeper or a server what on God's green earth makes you think you can truly afford the experience?

 

[jetskigrl]

If you read my pervious posts. Even at top end hotels like a Ritz tipping is not and was not common.

Actually, I'm not so sure about that. I agree that in the past it didn't seem to be as common but it has certainly become commonplace now.

From the Ritz Carlton (Sarasota) website itself:

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Sarasota/Destination/GeneralInformation/Default.htm

Tipping guidelines:
For hotel staff, recommended amounts are $1 - $3 per bag for a bellman, $1 - $2 per night for housekeeping, $5 - $10 for special concierge services, $1 - $3 for a doorman who hails a cab or parks a car, 15% of the greens fee for a caddie, 15%-20% of the bill for a massage, and 15% of a room service bill.

 

[Susie63]

Some people tip....others don't. That is up to the individual. There is no right or wrong.
However,for myself,I do not tip when I spend one night at a hotel and check out the next day. On the other hand,when I stay for several days and the housekeeping staff has to clean around my "stuff" and ususally ends up tidying up my "stuff",I am more than happy to throw a couple bucks their way. I certainly do not spend time cleaning my room before I hit the park in the morning.I throw my dirty laundry in a suitcase and that's about it.

 

[Armadillo4]

I generally tip $5 after our first night, and then $2-$3 each day after. I hope to make a good impression with the first tip and hope the room gets some extra attention from housekeeping. And yes, I realize the housekeeper might be different on the following days, but I figure it doesn't hurt to try.

And if I don't have envelopes, I write "Housekeeping: Thank You!" on a piece of notepaper--the ones that you usually find for phone messages--and place the tip under the piece of paper. I do know that tipping is not an obligation, but it's something I *want* to do for the housekeeping staff.

 

[Dobie]

The Dobies usually leave a 50 dollar bill for mousekeeping on our last morning (after a 5 night stay.)

These women work much, much, much harder than the people who bring us our food, and we don't think twice about leaving a 10 dollar tip for a waiter.

Most hotel housekeepers pool their tips, so IMHO it averages out.

 

[HappyHaunt]

Frankly, if I'm paying $300 a night for a hotel, I expect them to pay their employees decently. At the very least I'm expecting a clean room, without having to pay more. Tipping was always meant for service that goes above and beyond. Not for just doing their job, and not because they make a low wage. They shouldn't clean any differently based on tips either. They should do their job regardless.

I personally think tipping has gotten out of hand, and it seems like everyone is expecting it now days. I can understand if you had a huge mess for them to clean (like in the case of a stomach flu). But to just make the beds, empty the trash cans, and fix up the towels? That's what they get their paycheck for. Not saying it's the easiest job. Neither is a lot of low paying jobs, that don't get tips. Sorry, not the most popular opinion I'm sure. But it's mine.

 

[Saylan]

For those who do leave tips, in envelopes or with notes, have you ever had concerns about saying something like "From the Smith family" or "From Joe and Jane"?

I'm doing ours up and my DBF was fine up until I mentioned 'from'. He's fine with tipping, with the envelopes, etc. but he doesn't think it's a good idea at all to put even just the <blank> family let alone our names.

I'll respect his wishes but I was just a little surprised and wondered if there was maybe some logic I'm not aware of that would explain it.

 

[Susie63]

For those who do leave tips, in envelopes or with notes, have you ever had concerns about saying something like "From the Smith family" or "From Joe and Jane"?

I'm doing ours up and my DBF was fine up until I mentioned 'from'. He's fine with tipping, with the envelopes, etc. but he doesn't think it's a good idea at all to put even just the <blank> family let alone our names.

I'll respect his wishes but I was just a little surprised and wondered if there was maybe some logic I'm not aware of that would explain it.

We put from "The Meyer Family" on ours. I am sure they know the last name and how many people are in the room already.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I personally hate tipping! If I am paying for a service to start with - meal, hotel, etc. why should I need to subsidize an employees wage while the employer rakes in the money?

I am a counsellor who works with children and youth and no one tips me after completing suicide risk assessments on their children or for helping kids get through their parents separation/divorce. I really don't understand the concept of tipping someone for doing their job, though I realize that this is part of the norm in the U.S. and do so begrudgingly!

My husband was a waiter. He made 2.33 an hour from his employer. They expected him to make his wage in tips only. They said to them numerous times "Want a raise? Do a better job and they'll tip you better"

hah.

Anyway. I agree it's tipping for a service. If I don't want to pay a tip, I get fast food

 

[BBandDisney]

Most people only tip when they feel they have to. They don't have to look housekeeping in the eyes when the room gets cleaned. Out of sight -out of mind.

 

[poohbear22]

Anyway. I agree it's tipping for a service. If I don't want to pay a tip, I get fast food

The funny thing is that even fast food places sometimes set out tip jars.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

The funny thing is that even fast food places sometimes set out tip jars.

I know. When I see those places, I skip them

I refused to go to Sonic when they did car service only. Ours now has a drive thru so I don't have to tip for a freakin diet coke served to me by a guy in rollerskates.