Tipping?

[maryp]

I worked as a maid in a hotel in high school. I couldn't beleive how messy some people were. Once when we checked in at the Poly, the room was late because the carpet had to be shampooed before we could have the room. While I think most people are not so untidy (trying to be polite here) there are some who are not. Based on personal experience, I always tip housekeeping, much to the dismay of my husband!!

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by PamOKW
It's a personal choice whether or not to tip. I choose to tip the housekeeping staff at WDW equivalent to what I tip at any hotel and sometimes actually tip more due to the large size of the units. Others can choose not to tip. I don't think it's necessary to attack my decision. The poster asked for opinions. I gave mine pro tipping and others are giving theirs for not tipping. Each person can make their own decision.

Sorry PamOKW, I was not attacking your decision...just quoting what I was responding to---as you said each person can make that decision...I just think it helps if that decision is based on as much information as possible and I did not think the statement about "standard" practices was as complete a picture of the situation as possible...I noted earlier that Disney makes a point of telling people when to tip--even how much...When they changed the valet parking rules they made a point of saying "Of course, tipping is still appropriate for the valets." When you eat at a WDW restaurant a little message comes with the bill saying it is customary to tip 15% to 20%...they even give this same little message out at buffets where I think that is a bit high for servers who are really only bussing and delivering drinks for the most part...not the same as a full service waiter..that is another thread and issue---the point is why then is it that Disney does not leave any message whatsoever about tipping housekeeping?...if you write to the resorts they will gladly supply you with the list of tipped positions---you don't tip CM's in the parks and supposedly, if they accept tips they can be fired for it...as stated earlier, it is not clear if housekeepers are even allowed to keep those tips...the problem is that few people do it face to face, and management has a hard time policing such a policy... If people still want to tip knowing these things, that is their choice...but they should be aware of all aspects.

ADDENDUM: I was just over on the RADP and they have a tipping thread going now...a Mark Fendrick posted this 2 days ago-

"It's actually very simple and to the housekeepers benefit. In most hotels,housekeeping is a tipped position, so they receive a small salary ... often in the three dollar and change an hour range. (In Disney this still holds true for bell services. Tips are a necessary part of their pay.) In Disney, housekeeping in(sic) a non-tipped position and receives a better than minimum wage salary. Technically they are not supposed to accept tips, although the policy here is more lax than other non-tipped positions. My daughter works the front desk, and has had guests offer her tips. Since front desk is a non-tipped position, she is required to refuse. Accepting a tip is cause for immediate termination."

 

[burnsoc]

If anyone wants to see what it's like working in a service industry job, I suggest reading the book Nickel And Dimed In America, I don't remember the author's name offhand. It's a very powerful book. I for one generally over tip because I appreciate good service and know how little these people make. If I couldn't pay the tip I wouldn't go to the restaurant or hotel. Just my two cents.

 

[DeeP]

I don't know where this infamous list of tipped positions is to be found. I hear it mentioned on these boards from time to time.

Pam,
The list is on the resort newspaper they give you when you check in. Housekeeping is NOT listed as a tipped position but we always tip also.

 

[PamOKW]

The primary reason Disney has reminders in the restaurants is because tipping waitstaff is not common practice in Europe and other parts of the world. It is there to let foreign visitors know what is expected.

I know there's a list in the resort papers. I didn't know this is what people were referring to. I was wondering how the information about their salaries being higher and their not being allowed to accept tips came into being....seems sort of an urban legend of Disney boards. Just as in hotels around the country, I'm sure they are used to receiving some tips and some not. I don't think anyone who would ordinarily tip in a hotel should be discouraged from tipping at WDW or DVC. If you don't want to tip, that's okay, too.

 

[ralphd]

Think Pam has done a good job explaining the reason most people tip housekeeping. We tip based on the size of unit we are using on each trip. Fortuately we have always received very good service.

ralphd

 

[Dean]

We tip for many things and not for others. There has evolved a culture of businesses passing along part of their costs in this way to the customer above and beyond the direct cost of the service in question. The problem with tipping a position that is judged by management as a non tipping job is that over time you may convert it to a tipped position. That means less pay and potentially less benefits for that person. I know if I ran a hotel and the usual pay in the industry were XXX and they were getting tips in addition, I would cut the pay structure (or withhold raises) somewhat to even it out. Of course you still want to reward your best employees but no reason to overpay joe smoe off the street who may steal something and get fired anyway.

Since DVC pays them an appropriate salary and it's considered by management a non tipping position, I don't see the reason to tip unless something above their regular job. That's especially true for the cleaning they will do when you leave. Now if you leave a big mess, that's a different story. Personally, we usually take out the trash, pick up what we can, strip the beds and pile the towels and sheets near the door in separate piles.

 

[bicker]

I think the main point here is that tipping housekeeping is actually NOT a standard practice, but rather is the practice at roughly (very roughly) half the establishments. Besides Disney, Marriott also classifies their housekeepers as non-tipped and instructs them to turn money left in rooms over to management. Folks are welcome to do as they please, but unlike restaurant waiters, where tipping is always expected, the only way to know for sure whether the housekeeper should be tipped is to ask management. If you ask Disney management, you'll find, indeed, that they're non-tipped personnel.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Dean
...Personally, we usually take out the trash, pick up what we can, strip the beds and pile the towels and sheets near the door in separate piles.

Holy Moly!... I'd rather tip!

 

[PKS44]

An important point not discussed yet is that this Non-tipped/tipped position thing has an effect on tax withholding...I am not sure of the details but as I understand it, if you do not tip a tipped position, like a waiter, the IRS figures you did tip them, and taxes them accordingly, so no tip is actually like taking money away from them...on the other hand, if you tip a housekeeper at a non-tipped position, the IRS may never know, so your tip is actually potentially worth even more to them since there is no tax taken away...By the way, that book about Nickel and Dimed in America is not really relevant to this discussion as it deals with minimum wge jobs---Disney pays housekeepers more than minimum wage, almost twice as much for some more senior housekeepers according to the information I have seen...they also give signing bonuses and have travelled to far away states to lure good housekeepers to Disney, so clearly this is not a position that is not given considerable investment by the company.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by PKS44
I am not sure of the details but as I understand it, if you do not tip a tipped position, like a waiter, the IRS figures you did tip them, and taxes them accordingly, so no tip is actually like taking money away from them...on the other hand, if you tip a housekeeper at a non-tipped position, the IRS may never know, so your tip is actually potentially worth even more to them since there is no tax taken away.

That is only partly true. The government does assume 10% tips for tipped jobs and takes out taxes accordingly. They would then file at the end of the year and would get any overage back. So they wouldn't lose anything, just have extra taken out if their tips are less than 10%.

 

[jcodespoti]

Call me stupid but... I always tip the maid that takes care of my room WHEN I CHECK IN. I ask the front desk the maids name and when I find her (this whole process takes 5 minutes) I give her a $20.00 bill and tell her my room number..You would not believe the service I get


Joe in CT

 

[burnsoc]

While the book I referred to is not about Disney, if a senior housekeeper is not even making twice the minimum wage that is still incredibly hard to live on. What is the starting wage for new housekeepers?

 

[bicker]

There are many jobs that don't pay very much. I'm not sure I see the connection.

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

Actually Dean, that is not entirely true. The IRS actually has interesting ways to calculate tipped income and will assess over and above what a tipped position declares far more than 10%. It would take too long to explain one of the ways I know of, but I have seen it done and the penalties and interest on top of the assessment are just as ugly.

 

[burnsoc]

Dear Bicker,
My point is that these people often work very hard for low wages and while Disney may not list their job as a tipped position, I think leaving a tip is the right thing to do. It's just my opinion and I know many others disagree. On my last stay at WDW we had an incredibly nice housekeeper who did a very thorough job. To show my appreciation I left a very generous tip. I consider tips to be a part of my vacation expenses and I figure them into the price of the trip.

 

[bicker]

To each his own.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Kick it up a notch!
Actually Dean, that is not entirely true. The IRS actually has interesting ways to calculate tipped income and will assess over and above what a tipped position declares far more than 10%. It would take too long to explain one of the ways I know of, but I have seen it done and the penalties and interest on top of the assessment are just as ugly.

I'm sure there are a lot of rules. The point was that they are not charged withholding taxes in the long run on income they never had. The only way this could come into play as an issue is if the tips are less than the "assumptions" the government rules make which is not likely over the long haul for a tipped position, working full time and doing a good job. Charging penalties and interest because they didn't anticipate well over the course of the year is a different problem with the tax system not related to the point I was making (assuming that's what you're referring to). Non reporting of tips is also a problem and in part, the reason for the current rules whether we agree or disagree with them.

 

[PamOKW]

Burnsoc, you have expressed my feelings as well. I could not in good conscience let a housekeeper come in and clean my room on Christmas Day and not leave a substantial tip. Money is pouring out everywhere at WDW for sodas, ice creams, etc., etc., etc. the cost of tipping the maid is something I add in to my expenses. It is a personal decision with no right or wrong.

 

[KNWVIKING]

PAM...

In an earlier post you mentioned a "list" of who to tip. I don't know how official it is, but in Birnbaums Disneyland Guide, (which I don't have in front of me at the moment) they do no list housekeepers.

Personnaly I like jcodespoti's idea and may try it. I know if I'm sitting on a bar stool at a crowded pub,that first tip for the first round pays huge dividends the rest of the night.