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Original poster

How much to tip in UK?

28 replies

Mommy2Ro · 26/11/2004 10:20

I'm getting a cleaner to come in for the first time (wahoo!) ever and I have no idea if/how much I should tip her. I moved here from the states and there, we tip. Anyone know the custom here (london)?

On that note, we live in a building complex that houses offices as well as flats and therefore have a front desk with very nice and helpful doormen, all very sweet and helpful with DD. In the states, I know it's customary to give xmas-time tips as thanks for the year-round help. Anyone know if a christmas/holiday tip would be appropriate? Also, there are 3 that help us frequently and then a few on the night shift that we don't see so often... Who do we tip and how? Or do we give something to the manager to split with the staff?

Sorry such a long msg... all input appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mommy2Ro · 26/11/2004 10:22

Afterthought, would a box of chocolates for the doorstaff be more appropriate (or too cheap)? I know that one of the doormen is muslim and I am not sure if he drinks (tho he does smoke...), so not sure about maybe wrapping up nice bottles of wine?

OP posts:
Carla · 26/11/2004 10:24

No, no need to tip the cleaner, though I always gave ours £50 at Christmas. No idea about the doormen ... my, there are some posh people on MN

Original poster
Mommy2Ro · 26/11/2004 10:27

Thanks for the scoop, Carla. Not as posh as we sound (can't afford nursery, so cleaner was the compromise) and the doormen were a happy fluke of living in a work/live building.

But thanks, we'd like to pretend....

OP posts:
WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 10:30

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Original poster
Mommy2Ro · 26/11/2004 10:32

W&R - Let me sound like a complete foreigner here. I have to declare the tip as something like wages or thy have to?

OP posts:
Carla · 26/11/2004 10:34

Theoretically W&R, but surely no one does

Avalon · 26/11/2004 10:39

Surely everyone turns a blind eye to tips? What about tipping taxi drivers?

Carla · 26/11/2004 10:41

And waiters?

WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 10:48

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WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 10:49

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Original poster
Mommy2Ro · 26/11/2004 10:51

Mmmh, sounds like maybe a non-monetary gift might be better?

DD will be up from her nap soon, but will keep checking here... seems like there may not be a definitive answer...

OP posts:
Carla · 26/11/2004 11:04

But if you know the person personally, like a cleaner or a doorman, they'd know you didn't work for the IR. Unless of course you did . I know that our ex cleaner wouldn't know what a tax return was if it hit her on the head.

WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 11:19

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princesspeahead · 26/11/2004 11:28

Mommy, tipping your cleaner on a regular basis isn't expected. A tip at xmas is, although the english are so mean they don't do it if they think they can possibly get away with it!! So give your cleaner £20 in a card at xmas. Re your doorman - they don't really expect anything (unlike eg in NY), but will be delighted if they do get anything. If you have 6 or so staff there then it might be a bit much to tip each individually - if there were only 2 or 3 I'd say £20 in a card or a bottle of whisky each(not for the muslim obviously!). But with 6 or so I'd do a card addressed to all of them thanking them for their help and put in £50 or £60 "as a contribution towards your christmas party". Then it is clear it is for all of them and they can either divy up the money or go out and get pissed.

And I don't see what the IR has to do with it, that is their problem and not yours.

princesspeahead · 26/11/2004 11:29

ps and their employer is allowed to give a xmas party to a value of £50 per head without it being a taxable benefit so that would be OK, if you really want to get boring about it! which you don't, because it is xmas

Carla · 26/11/2004 11:33

W&R I am truly shocked. So there's no point in giving our postie and bin men their Christmas box this year

WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 11:40

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WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 11:42

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codswallop · 26/11/2004 11:43

I woudlnt tip her at all

Carla · 26/11/2004 12:05

Sorry to labour a point W&R but does that mean I have to declare the £40 cheque my friend gave me for my birthday?

WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 12:34

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dawnie1 · 26/11/2004 12:46

Carla - thats a lovely idea, I never thought to tip the dustbin men and they have been so nice and helpful this year. I feel thats Santas bottle of whiskey will be going to a more worthy cause this year.

princesspeahead · 26/11/2004 13:24

I didn't say she was their employer. If she contributes money to the party that their employer is giving them (ie via the manager)that should be OK.
but I reiterate, it is not your problem whether they declare it or not, just as it isn't your problem if a waiter you leave a fiver on the table for declares it or not or a cabbie declares his tips or not. It isn't your problem, they aren't your employees, so this is a non-point as far as this thread is concerned I think. And slightly takes a sledgehammer to the point about giving people who have been helpful to you a tip at xmas time!

WigandRobe · 26/11/2004 13:27

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Carla · 26/11/2004 13:30

Good on ya dawnie So can anyone tell me what the difference is?

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