What do you tip your bin men?

I run outside and hand them a box of biscuits. I usually get a roll of extra recycling bags in exchange, which I consider a good deal 😄

I'm not a miser.

I paid my cleaner in full through covid because her personal circumstances meant the government help she was eligible for was minimal. I took the view that if i was continuing to receive my normal pay through lockdown, i could continue to pay her hers.

I simply belief routine tipping whoever happens to be the direct customer facing end of an operation is inconsistent and inefficient and allows actual wages to be surpressed, hurting all lower earners.

We've always tipped the bin men - followed on from what our parents used to do, I suppose. £20 tucked into a Christmas card for the whole crew to share.

We always tip the postman too. My dad was a postie and I remember how important the Christmas tip was to my mum. She managed the finances.

Don’t customers ever send festive boxes of chocs etc in to your work?

No? Most people in normal jobs don't get this.

Also this thread really is misnamed. Its not about tipping, its about christmas gifts.

I still wouldn't give to the bin men - they change all the time and I'm not a direct employer of them, i have no idea who they are. They are also employed so are guaranteed minimum wages, pension, paid holiday and statutory sick pay.

I leave a week extra cleaning pay for my cleaning ladies at Christmas because I take the view everyone deserves Christmas off paid. I know the ladies well they are the same team who've been cleaning for me for 5 years, they are self employed.

Tipping really is just people playing lady bountiful. If you want to improve the lives of low earners, vote in parties who raise public sector pay & minimum wage and want to grow public service provision, not reduce it.

You are allowed to do both, you know. How miserly.

Well as I know binmen are on a decent wage (fully deserved may i add!) and also get to do task and finish, I won't be tipping.

It is a dirty job, but they are compensated in many ways.

It's people on minimum wage that I am more likely to tip.

Because they do a really horrible job in all weathers and don't get paid very much

This applies to many, many people whom you simply don't see/have contact with.

Tipping really is just people playing lady bountiful. If you want to improve the lives of low earners, vote in parties who raise public sector pay & minimum wage and want to grow public service provision, not reduce it.

Nothing.
It's a perfectly decent job with wages and hours that aren't that bad.
DH leaves at 5.45am, and works a 10-12 hour day in all weathers, and noone's tipping him!

Nothing. They are doing their job which they get paid for and most weeks we have to message the council to say they missed our end again.

Not any more
I'm old enough to remember when they had to lug around filthy, smelly bins themselves, and now all they do is attach them to the truck which does the work, with the bins left all over the place afterwards

I tip the postman though; we've had the same one for years and he's brilliant

Nothing, mine are rubbish

We did. She ripped it off.

We now have an external mailbox. He's very nice about it as he as similar dogs on his round but the owners arent even attempting to mitigate the situation, so he likes us.

I don't think anyone should be tipping anyone.
American companies need to start paying their employees and stop exporting their tipping culture.

Many Americans don’t tip their bin men. Definitely wasn’t something I saw growing up there. Just because it involves tipping someone, doesn’t make it American.

I pay my council tax

No, customers don’t ever send festive boxes of chocs to work!

I really think it’s in poor taste to hand out gifts/money- as if they’re your staff and you’re acting out lady of the manor in Downton Abbey. Especially as those workers are well paid and earn more than many.

£20 binmen
£20 postie

We can afford it, I don't want to do their job and are very grateful they do it well and regularly.

Just because 'it's their job' doesn't mean I don't appreciate what they do and want to spread a little cheer now and then.

I don’t tip them, and couldn’t really, as they always collect when I’m not in.

My parents and grandparents always used to do this at Christmas. No idea if they still do.

We always used to leave a box of beer but a couple of years ago they knocked really apologetically and said they weren’t allowed to accept it any more. They are allowed to take food though so I will take them some chocolate out when they come next week. Ours are lovely, helpful
and always put the bins back where they were.

I’ve also got some biscuits for the postman just because he’s always so cheery and friendly 😊

Why are we tipping the bin men? I’m confused? They are just doing their jobs??

My head of dept sometimes buys a cake if we're really lucky.

Surely it's a British tradition? My great grandmother used to leave tips for the binmen and postman and milkman on Boxing Day over 100 years ago!

Nothing. They get paid more than me

£10 binmen
£5 postie
£5 milkman Kev

All in cards made by the children. The binmen have theirs stuck to the bin and the other two are left by the door. (We're in a very safe area).

I don’t tip the bin men. I don’t know anyone who does. They do a perfectly good job but they’re salaried workers and they’re different ones each week anyway depending on which bin it is.

A box of chocs for the bin crew, something they can share on the round or in the depot afterwards, and some money - usually £15 so £5 each. And the postman:£10.

Its not really a tip in the usual sense is it, because we don’t do it every time - it’s simply a Christmas gift, a way to spread the jollity and gift-giving spirit of the season.

All you lot who have posted that you don’t- well, you’re all miserable scrooges! Don’t customers ever send festive boxes of chocs etc in to your work? Don’t you like feeling festive? (If not, I suggest you start giving; you might also end up with a bit of receiving too…)