Tipping Postal Workers/Holidays - Advisory

[JB2K]

I'm surprised this discussion hasn't already come-up (this was a topic on the J.C. Cocoran show in St. Louis, today).

More often than not here on The DIS, most tippers proudly exclaim "I tip my mail carrier!". While the intention is good, please keep in mind that all civil servants (including employees of the U.S. Postal Service) are not allowed to receive cash tips, as mandated by federal law.

But if you want to recognize your mail carrier, the USPS asks that your gratuity (which is usually defined as a small gift or gift card) not exceed $20 in cash value.

 

[heathernfrankie]

Thanks. I never knew that. We usually get our mail carrier a box of candy from a local candy store.

 

[npmommie]

I'm surprised this discussion hasn't already come-up (this was a topic on the J.C. Cocoran show in St. Louis, today).

More often than not here on The DIS, most tippers proudly exclaim "I tip my mail carrier!". While the intention is good, please keep in mind that all civil servants (including employees of the U.S. Postal Service) are not allowed to receive cash tips, as mandated by federal law.

But if you want to recognize your mail carrier, the USPS asks that your gratuity (which is usually defined as a small gift or gift card) not exceed $20 in cash value.

I usually give my carrier cookies, or a box of candy.
my BIL who lives in my neighborhood, same carrier, always gives him cash. I think he gives him $50 and he always accepts it.


he is a great carrier though, he brings things to the door always, when he is off I hate it because the others will not even attempt to come to the door with a package, they put a slip in the box, and I am usually home when they come.

 

[Purseval]

We give the mail carrier a bottle of whiskey or wine. Because it's the holidays a lot of temps are also out so we make sure it's actually our regular carrier in the truck before we put the gift in the mailbox.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I usually give my carrier cookies, or a box of candy.
my BIL who lives in my neighborhood, same carrier, always gives him cash. I think he gives him $50 and he always accepts it.


he is a great carrier though, he brings things to the door always, when he is off I hate it because the others will not even attempt to come to the door with a package, they put a slip in the box, and I am usually home when they come.

We had a mail carrier one time who would pull in the driveway and honk the horn until I came out to get the package. If I wasn't fast enough she would put a slip in the box. She didn't give me very long either. It was frustrating because I would usually have a baby sleeping at that time, and she would wake him up. I never tipped her.

Our carrier now brings it to the door. I really appreciate him! I give him a small gift every year. Usually cookies or candy.

 

[jessica52877]

I LOVE my mail carrier. I give her a gift card, not cash, but can be used like it!

 

[Cruise]

Our mail carrier doesn't even bother picking up the outgoing mail half the time. He delivers new mail.... just totally ignores the outgoing that's left for him to take.

Yeah, he doesn't get a tip.

 

[soccerchick]

I'm surprised this discussion hasn't already come-up (this was a topic on the J.C. Cocoran show in St. Louis, today).

More often than not here on The DIS, most tippers proudly exclaim "I tip my mail carrier!". While the intention is good, please keep in mind that all civil servants (including employees of the U.S. Postal Service) are not allowed to receive cash tips, as mandated by federal law.

But if you want to recognize your mail carrier, the USPS asks that your gratuity (which is usually defined as a small gift or gift card) not exceed $20 in cash value.

So, if I leave an envelope w/a card and cash, what is really going to happen? Have any postal workers been caught? I don't tip much, but I do tip. And will tip. I've never had an envelope returned to me.

 

[StephMK]

Is it standard practice to give them a tip? Not trying to be snotty, just didn't realize that was a tipped position. I have honestly never considered it and here, I don't even know ours. All of the mailboxes in our neighborhood are in groups across the street so he/she only drives.

 

[pearlieq]

I've never tipped our mail carrier. I don't understand why the expectation would be there unless they really went above and beyond like running mail directly to the door of an elderly person or handling packages for a heavy eBayer or something.

But tipping for putting my mail in the box? Isn't that their job? Don't they receive a full salary and benefits?

More power to anyone who wants to do it, but I never understood how it came about in the first place.

 

[rubato]

As the wife of a letter carrier, let me say "thank you" to all of you who do leave your carrier a tip. My husband works VERY hard for 10 -12 hours a day and never gets thanked for his work. He used to deliver an older neighborhood, and his customers would bake him cookies or give him a small gift, or even just a card. He was always appreciative. He now delivers to 3600 aparments (yes, you read that number correctly) and he receives nothing. That's fine, because like the above poster said, he does get paid. But, it's nice to be acknowledged.

I give my letter carrier a $25 gift card because they are not allowed to accept cash. I leave my garbage collectors a case of beer under an empty trash can (they work hard in the cold too). If it's really cold outside, I will bring coffee to these workers (and donuts to the garbage men). If it's really hot outside I will ask if they'd like some iced tea.

I get packages all year and the USPS is the only provider that will bring it up to my door, ring the bell, and actually wait to make sure I get the package before driving off. Of course I'm going to tip for that service!

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I give my mail carrier a $20 Starbucks gift card for Christmas. He is a very good mail carrier, but I was told many years ago by our local post master to not give cash, they have to report it and he has to fill out paperwork. I am not sure if that is true, but he seemed to really push the no cash idea for his branch. That was the year I started giving gift cards.

 

[momx2]

As the wife of a letter carrier, let me say "thank you" to all of you who do leave your carrier a tip. My husband works VERY hard for 10 -12 hours a day and never gets thanked for his work. He used to deliver an older neighborhood, and his customers would bake him cookies or give him a small gift, or even just a card. He was always appreciative. He now delivers to 3600 aparments (yes, you read that number correctly) and he receives nothing. That's fine, because like the above poster said, he does get paid. But, it's nice to be acknowledged.

I give my letter carrier a $25 gift card because they are not allowed to accept cash. I leave my garbage collectors a case of beer under an empty trash can (they work hard in the cold too). If it's really cold outside, I will bring coffee to these workers (and donuts to the garbage men). If it's really hot outside I will ask if they'd like some iced tea.

I get packages all year and the USPS is the only provider that will bring it up to my door, ring the bell, and actually wait to make sure I get the package before driving off. Of course I'm going to tip for that service!

I understand what you are saying and everyone likes to be thanked for their job, but that isn't the customers place to do, unless you are waiter or such. I also work in a government position and could lose my job if I took a tip or a thank you gesture that was money or gift card. I don't think I should be tipped for doing my job since I recieve a salary with benefits. Trust me I probably have one of the least thanked jobs in the world and that's just the way it is.

 

[jessica52877]

I have several packages a week she picks up, sometimes on my porch and she is always bringing me packages. I feel that I am not a normal customer, therefore I tip. BUT it would still be her job, I just know that she has to work extra hard at my house. She is friendly as can be and I would do anything for her. I have been lucky in the 9 years we have lived here. We have had 4 different ones and they are all wonderful!

 

[3boymthr]

There are lots of positions where people get paid to do their job where they may or may not get tipped and where it certainly not expected or considered to be part of their salary but they do get tipped. DH is not a waiter or a mail carrier but he frequently gets tipped when he goes out on middle of the night calls or in the middle of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner (yes, this has happened - more than once - he is an HVAC tech). A tip is certainly not required or expected but it is appreciated as it means to DH that someone thinks he's doing a good job.

OP - I will keep that in mind thank you.

 

[momx2]

My point is that as a government employee, that employee could get in trouble for taking money. I know in my government position I would and could lose my job. I have had people put $100 bills in my hand that I had to give back as well as gift cards. I don't know about postal carriers, but am speaking for my government job.

 

[RangerPooh]

We tip our mail carrier, UPS man, and Fed Ex man with a box of candy.

My dad worked for UPS for almost 30 years and would come home with all kids of goodies. From boxes of See's candy, to wine, cash, and cookies. It was always a nice gesture on the part of his customers.

 

[Purseval]

More often than not here on The DIS, most tippers proudly exclaim "I tip my mail carrier!". While the intention is good, please keep in mind that all civil servants (including employees of the U.S. Postal Service) are not allowed to receive cash tips, as mandated by federal law.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-New-Rules-for-EndofYear-usnews-1978037488.html?x=0

Postal workers: Postal workers cannot receive any more than $20 in cash, which is an appropriate tip during the holidays, says Judith Bowman, founder of Protocol Consultants International. You can also give more personal gifts, such as baked goods or a gift certificate (under $20 in value, of course).

 

[LuLuO]

I used to give our previous mail carrier candy and a gift card. She was a real nice lady. She bought me an outfit for my kids when they were newborns. She is gone now and I don't know the new one very well at all but I'll probably leave some candy in the box with a thank you note.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Our mail carrier doesn't even bother picking up the outgoing mail half the time. He delivers new mail.... just totally ignores the outgoing that's left for him to take.

Yeah, he doesn't get a tip.

I have to ask, do you put the flag up? If you don't, it's not our job to check the mail laying in there to see if it's outgoing or not. I have allot of customers that do that but I know who does it, so I'll watch out for them but its not our job to check the mail thats in the box without the flag up.