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Original poster

What do you tip your bin men?

262 replies

ChocolateTVandbaby · 17/12/2023 16:32

Inspired by a podcast I'm listening to... wondering whether people tip their binmen and if so what with? My mum leaves beer out for them. Some people I know give cash. What do you give and how much?

OP posts:
beanontoast · 17/12/2023 21:03

ChocolateTVandbaby · 17/12/2023 21:00

I haven't got through all the comments but interesting not many people on here do. I haven't before but feel like I should. They are reliable and pleasant. They always wave to my young DC who like watching them get the bins and if I'm ever putting the bin out at the last minute they help me take it. They're good so I would like to tip them but not sure what to give or how if we're not here.

Could you tip them the week after instead? I doubt they’d mind

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 17/12/2023 21:05

Do people really do this?

43ontherocksporfavor · 17/12/2023 21:05

Have never tipped bin operatives and don’t plan to. I appreciated them and pay my council tax.

chocolataupain · 17/12/2023 21:06

Whiskerson · 17/12/2023 16:58

What do I what my what?!

😂 you echoed my response almost word for word

I do not "tip" anyone. I just pay the appropriate amount for the services they provide. Is that not... well, normal? I assumed so. Perhaps I was wrong. 😬

chocolataupain · 17/12/2023 21:08

Biker47 · 17/12/2023 17:52

I graciously make my extortionate council tax payment each month, that's all.

Same 😂

Sandytoxic · 17/12/2023 21:11

Tenner each, black, green, brown bins and postman. With a card saying how we appreciate the work they do. It’s nice to be nice.

UsingChangeofName · 17/12/2023 21:18

I don't.
No idea why you think I would.

FourLeggedBuckers · 17/12/2023 21:21

I don’t tip the postman because the service is appalling round here. I do tip the bin men because they actually do their job and they’re not knobs about it, unlike the postal service - although in previous areas I’ve always tipped both.

It’s a physically very tough job that isn’t nearly well enough paid for it, and they’re always lovely when they meet me on a horse and I inadvertently hold them up. They’re far more polite around horses on the road than the general public, and that alone makes them worth a Christmas tip to me.

Tacotortoise · 17/12/2023 21:21

Wouldn't dream of tipping them. They are pretty well paid, certainly better than I am.

Jumpingthruhoops · 17/12/2023 21:22

I pay them once a month. In council tax!

Shadowonasun · 17/12/2023 21:27

I don't tip anyone and don't understand the culture. Why would I give additional money to people for doing their job? Which they get a wage for? They show up for work, do their thing, get their money. End of story. Why would I give them more. That applies to everyone, hairdressers, waiters, cabbies, etc.

I also work with clients/service industry. No one tips me (nor should they). I don't see why I must.

Ilovesshopping · 17/12/2023 21:31

They’re really not that well paid at all. If they have a HGV licence then they’ll probably earn a bit more, but certainly not a high wage. Yes it’s an unskilled role so you wouldn’t expect it, but it’s very essential. As for the paying high council tax.. well they’re not getting that are they.

Worriedmum86 · 17/12/2023 21:33

Nothing.... They only do the bare minimum, won't collect bins if they're not exactly where they say they're supposed to be, yet leave them in the middle of the road instead of returning to where we had to drop them off. Means we have to stop car, move bins and then park afterwards.

We tip the postman £10 though because they are genuinely helpful and friendly all year.

Sandytoxic · 17/12/2023 21:33

Ah, see, I tip hairdressers, waiters, cabbies and even takeaway delivery drivers,.

Happilyobtuse · 17/12/2023 21:53

Maireas · 17/12/2023 20:54

Shouldn't he ensure you never miss a parcel anyway?

Show quote history

Well when we lived in a different area we had a horrible postie who would always take the parcels back to the main post office and make us go there to collect it. Was a right pain to find the time and go there. Never had that problem here and we have been here 4 years.

The reason I feel like doing something nice for him is he has built a lovely friendship with our family over the past 4 years, always smiling and chats nicely with all of us. He lost his wife this year due to a sudden illness and is really struggling with the grief. He deserves some cheering up and we have always given him wine and chocolate since we moved here. I added biscuits this year. No idea what else to get him. I know for a fact that our immediate neighbours who have all lived here for 20 years plus do tip him cash or wine/chocolates etc. I think if you appreciate ppl you should let them know. In our culture we tip or give gifts at festivals. We are not Christian but since this is the main festival in UK we buy all our staff presents at this time of the year.

TortolaParadise · 17/12/2023 21:57

FriedasCarLoad · 17/12/2023 19:20

£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).

You have a milkie? Wow haven't seen one or a float for decades!

Notsurehwhattdo · 17/12/2023 22:10

It used to be physically tough job, more worthy of a tip before the advent of hydraulic lifts etc. on the back of the vehicles... Now they pull a wheeled bin next the the truck, press a button and the truck does the hard work.

BernadetteStBernard · 17/12/2023 22:14

We get ours 2 large crate of beers each year - they always take extra bags left by the side of the wheelie bins if we run out of space, they work hard and I hope it doesn't get them into trouble, but having seen some of these answers, I will ask them Confused

ClareBlue · 17/12/2023 22:18

Yep, definitely a think in Yorkshire when I was a kid. You tipped the bin man and the postman. Equivalent of about 2 hours of min wage to give a ball park figure.

Toddlerteaplease · 17/12/2023 22:26

Nothing, why would i? And they didn't empty my bin last week!

FourLeggedBuckers · 17/12/2023 22:28

Notsurehwhattdo · 17/12/2023 22:10

It used to be physically tough job, more worthy of a tip before the advent of hydraulic lifts etc. on the back of the vehicles... Now they pull a wheeled bin next the the truck, press a button and the truck does the hard work.

This really isn’t fair or accurate- it’s a job that still requires heavy lifting, physical strength and fitness, despite the improvements mechanisation of some aspects offers.

Blinky21 · 17/12/2023 22:35

Our post man and the Evri delivery person, both get £20 on the basis we see them a lot and speak to them, I don't know the bin crew so we don't tip them

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 17/12/2023 22:41

I don't tip anyone. I wouldn't know my binman, postman etc. from a bar of soap. Why should anyone be tipped? I worked as a receptionist for decades, no-one tipped me, why are some jobs considered worth extra rewards and others not?

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 17/12/2023 22:43

FourLeggedBuckers · 17/12/2023 22:28

This really isn’t fair or accurate- it’s a job that still requires heavy lifting, physical strength and fitness, despite the improvements mechanisation of some aspects offers.

Show quote history

I can assure you that the binmen here to nothing other than drive the truck. The truck does everything, they don't even get out of it.

FourLeggedBuckers · 17/12/2023 22:47

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 17/12/2023 22:43

I can assure you that the binmen here to nothing other than drive the truck. The truck does everything, they don't even get out of it.

Show quote history

They don’t get out of the truck at all? How does that work?!

It certainly isn’t the case in any of the areas I’ve lived!