Tipping Practices During the Holidays in the United States
The practice of tipping in the United States is quite common, especially for service-oriented professions such as mail carriers, delivery people, barbers, and others who perform regular services. During the holiday season, it becomes a time when these individuals receive appreciation in the form of gifts, small token presents, or monetary tips. Here's a detailed look at how tipping practices evolve during this special period.
Predictable Tipping Habits
For many service providers like mail carriers and newspaper deliverers, the holiday season marks a significant opportunity for receiving small tokens of gratitude. Some professionals, like the OP, have specific practices in place. The OP, for example, gives candy or homemade goodies to their newspaper and letter carriers but prefers not to give tips for mail carriers during the year, so they don’t feel the need for additional thanks at the end of the year.
Company Policies and Practices
Some companies have strict rules against giving cash or valuable presents, as it can raise ethical and legal issues. For example, the USPS explicitly prohibits the giving of cash gifts. However, this doesn’t stop well-meaning individuals from providing small, appreciated gifts. The OP mentions leaving candy or homemade treats such as plum cordial, wrapped in bottles, for various service providers including their hairdresser.
Grateful Client Appreciation
In some cases, it’s the service providers themselves who gift their regular clients. This can range from simple tokens like candy canes to small wrapped presents. This is a form of mutual appreciation where the service provider and the recipient share in the festive spirit.
Christmas Treats and Gifts
Some people choose to prepare homemade Christmas treats as a way to tip without monetary transactions. This could include homemade cookies or tins of treats like those mentioned by another individual, who gives out tins of Christmas cookies to hairdressers, nail technicians, trash collectors, and postmen. Another person leaves cash in envelopes for mail carriers and garbage collectors at Christmas. These gestures not only thank the service providers but also add to the holiday spirit.
Surprising Christmas Tips
In one instance, a person left cash in an envelope for a mail carrier at Christmas and another envelope under the trash can for garbage collectors. For delivery drivers, they tend to get a couple of bucks as a tip, especially if they receive pizza deliveries. Barbers receive small amounts as they often do due to the cultural norm instilled by parents or the traditions of the profession itself. For heavy item deliveries, gratuities can range from $10 to $20.
The Church and Financial Tipping
Some individuals even go to lengths to redistribute their kindness by tipping places like the church and their local library. For example, the OP mentions leaving a big box of candy or fancy cookies to the ladies at the library and a similar gift for the tellers at their bank during Christmas and Easter. While not exactly a tip, this form of generosity is often appreciated just as much.
It is noteworthy that for many service providers, the holiday season marks a unique opportunity to receive acknowledgment and appreciation. While companies like the USPS have strict rules against cash tipping, individuals still find creative ways to express their gratitude. The holiday season indeed becomes a time of mutual thanks and celebration, with many taking this time to give back and support the professionals who make their lives easier.