Tipping Removal Men?

I would say the same to you Bluebelle you have no idea what position I'm financially. I merely answered the question of how much we gave the removal men when they saved my husband newly discharged from hospital with a heart condition and myself with a trapped sciatic nerve the additional stress and worry of a house move when they went above and beyond the job we paid them for.

Why do 'we' (those who do) still tip in a restaurant when a compulsory service charge has already been added to the bill? And which, we assume, is shared out between the waiting and kitchen staff?

When we moved back from Norway to the UK, we used a local (local to where we were moving) family-run business. It was a huge expense and my OH did tip them. We later saw one of the men who'd been part of the move, the owner's nephew I think, in a pub. We chatted and when we left, we saw him get into a car that cost almost twice as much as the new one we'd just purchased.

There was a bit of hanging around because of ferry sailing times, so I told them to add the bill to their invoice for their evening meal prior to sailing (there were 3 of them) and recommended a fairly decent restaurant. That, I was happy to do, it seemed like a civilised gesture. But then my OH gave them a huge tip on top of that.

Yes, we could afford it. But they were doing a job - as did I, like most or many on here which, for my own sense of pride, I always (or mostly) did to the very best of my ability - but I would have been very uncomfortable if anyone had ever offered me a tip. I was reasonably well paid, as are some of those we now tip. For doing their job.

I understand where tipping stems from, and why - but I still think it's archaic.

In America, apparently, some bartenders and wait staff earn more in tips than they do from what employers pay them as a base wage. Which is probably why such job are low-paid and will remain so. Your tip is, in effect, subsidising the employer. Staff rely on the tips to pay for essentials.

I think this is simply wrong. You as a worker, 'sell' your time, your effort, your expertise (and even in menial jobs, there is expertise), and give your presence to your employer. And should not have to rely on the whim, temperament, or generosity of customers to earn enough to live on.

However, I have to concede I'm in the minority, and my view is not a popular one.

I'm trying not to overthink the question, but it's worth asking:
Do we tip because we witness what a strenuous backbreaking job it is?
Do we tip because the men are working against the clock to get everything out by midday?
Do we tip because they are polite and friendly?
Do we tip because they have 250 miles to drive?
Or, as in a couple of my moves, a journey across The Channel with added paperwork and tolls?
It's not compulsory to tip, I know. Its their job, I know. My tip of £100 wasn't even 5%, more like 3%, so I'm not boasting about the amount. As someone said upthread, I think I do it on house moves if a stressful experience has simply been made less frantic and more bearable.
I do also tip in restaurants, taxis, hairdresser.

The selectiveness is what I don’t like or get maddyone it’s so so unfair, to say the waitress deserves £5 but the cleaner gets nothing The man who delivers parcels gets a tip but the person who serves you with the items to put in the parcel gets nothing and on top of all that it shrieks of ‘1 m the good guy be grateful’
No I will never like it it’s a poor system of unequal unfairness and if people want to call me mean let them, I know I m not

I have trouble understanding this idea of how hard they worked and they were worth their weight in gold. Surely everyone who is doing a job is working hard, unless they happen to be lazy. Do we tip our child’s teacher, no, we may give a small gift, do we tip the bus driver, no, we say thank you, do we tip our GP, no, we all too often complain about them, do we tip our dentist, no, we say thank you, do we tip the solicitor, the train driver, the air hostess or steward, the pilot, the shop assistant, the person who sweeps the roads, the hospital doctor or nurse, the radiographer, the shoe mender, the priest or vicar, the undertaker and and and. The list is endless and they all perform a service. What about the police officer who attends when we call, or the fire officers if we’re unlucky enough to need them? We’re selective about who we tip, and if we’re not going to tip everyone, then we should tip no one. It’s not about low pay either, there are thousands of people who are poorly paid who we don’t tip.

I tipped mine 6 years ago , I think I gave them £50 to share there were 4 & I said have something to eat, although I did do a cuppa and biscuits. They were worth their weight in gold on the day. The chap whose company I used I knew from my working life and he had given us a good price for the move and had been so helpful.

BlueBelle

Doctors and nurses in the NHS are not allowed to take money and it’s for the very reasons we have talked about It could cause favouritism or even be considered a bribe so there’s a blanket ban

It gives me hope that some on here feel strongly like me I m not mean I would give anyone anything they need, but I don’t agree with this archaic feudal system and I truly hope it runs out of steam in this modern world No one should have to rely on ‘tips’ and what a nasty word it is

Either tip every worker or tip no one otherwise it is just so so unfair

Apart from the NHS and other organisations where tipping employees is, for obvious reasons, forbidden, the act of tipping, when you strip it down, is basically a transaction where a supposedly wealthier person gives a little hand-out to a less wealthier person because they either appreciate the service or simply feel compelled to do it, because it's the 'done' thing.

I do tip, but I am opposed to it on principle. It's origins are feudal, but it's now morphed into a culture where it could end up where the 'tipper' is in real terms, less well-off than the person he or she is tipping.

Apart from the ethics, we don't tip professionals, doctors, barristers, etc, because they are well-rewarded in their jobs. We tip those offering a service because, generally speaking, they are not.

And yes, I know the argument - if low-paid workers are paid higher wages, the cost will be passed on to the consumer.

... well, it is anyway, because with everyone getting in on the act, expecting ever higher percentage gratuities, we are already paying the cost.

If we pay people higher wages, then companies and organisations will have to compete for our business, not only on quality, but on cost - so they will have to compete with each other which would presumably eventually lead to lower prices.

A friend in Norway remembers a time when tipping was not part of their culture - there's no minimum wage in Norway, but collective agreements between business and trades unions has resulted in an industrial average of (when we last spoke) somewhere around the equivalent of £15/£16+- per hour minimum. Not the greatest wage, and Norwegians will happily accept a tip - but they don't have to rely on one.

When I moved about 2.5yrs ago I gave the 3 guys £20 each. They worked really hard and deserved it.

Although tipping is now the norm in America, I found it interesting to learn that it was once frowned on - considered to be "un-American", a 'European import', and "feudal".

Tipping began in the Middle Ages in Europe when people lived under the feudal system. There were masters and servants, and there were tips. Servants would perform their duties and be given some pocket change in return. This was still custom in the 18th century and transitioned from masters and servants to customers and service industry workers.

... from America's National Public Radio archives.

Like you cornergran, no tipping to anybody, but if they working at my home I will provide drinks and biscuits.

I'm rather glad to live in a different world to you Bluebelle one where I show my appreciation when I feel like it which is as often as I can. I hate to be thought of as mean spirited.

Well thankfully I haven’t got such a harsh tongue so I m very glad I don’t live in your world Bigbertha
You make an assumption when knowing nothing about me you have no knowledge of what I do with what money I have or how generous I am

Of all the money spent on moving house, it has seemed to me always the most well earned, whether you tip or not.
A cheerful hardworking team is worth it's weight in gold on a day when you might feel a little stressed, to say the least.

You are fortunate to be able to BigBertha. For many tipping on top of the price of a service is simply not possible even if the principle sits comfortably with the individual. I rarely tip now. Other than a little to the cheerful, friendly and efficient students who serve at table in a cafe we visit regularly. They regularly tell me it’s not necessary.

Returning to removals. We didn’t tip the men who brought our furniture from storage when we moved here. They simply were unhelpful and careless with our belongings. They did get copious amounts of drinks and snacks with never a thank you from them. We at least thanked them before they left, albeit through gritted teeth. The crew who had packed and loaded at our previous home were excellent and yes, we did tip a relatively small amount as they left. That was because we felt the service deserved it and also we had been fortunate enough to be able to budget for it. Not everyone can, even if they would like to.

BigBertha1

I'm rather glad to live in a different world to you Bluebelle one where I show my appreciation when I feel like it which is as often as I can. I hate to be thought of as mean spirited.

Harsh comment BigBertha1 not everyone is in the fortunate position of being able to afford an extra £100. Just because our views our different from yours doesn't mean we don't appreciate help when it goes over and above what is necessary.

I'm rather glad to live in a different world to you Bluebelle one where I show my appreciation when I feel like it which is as often as I can. I hate to be thought of as mean spirited.

Callistemon21

BigBertha1

We always tip them. £100 when we moved in 8 months ago. It's flipping hard work moving a huge van load twice.

But that is their job!

... and it sets a 'precedent' which not everyone can afford.

What would be nice would be for employers to recognise their dedicated, hard workers - and give them a bonus at Christmas or whatever.

To be honest, when I'm paying nearly £3,000 to move, £100 tip for the men over 3 days wasn't much in the bigger picture.

When I moved about 18 months ago, I tipped £20 per person (there were 4 men). They were extremely efficient and careful. I rarely tip anyone else though.

you could order a gift or food items to be delivered to a hospital unit, if you wanted to.
they are allowed to accept something that is for all the staff, that can be shared.
anyway, i like to tip if appropriate.
i'm glad i am able to.
i know i will not regret it.

Doctors and nurses in the NHS are not allowed to take money and it’s for the very reasons we have talked about It could cause favouritism or even be considered a bribe so there’s a blanket ban

It gives me hope that some on here feel strongly like me I m not mean I would give anyone anything they need, but I don’t agree with this archaic feudal system and I truly hope it runs out of steam in this modern world No one should have to rely on ‘tips’ and what a nasty word it is

Either tip every worker or tip no one otherwise it is just so so unfair

I was going to when we moved, but bought them all sandwiches & crisps so thought that was enough

I agree with you BlueBelle.
Tipping is outdated. There are so many people who are not tipped.
How many of you have tipped the doctor who saved your life?
When I was hospitalised with Covid I didn’t tip any of the wonderful staff who saved my life. I couldn’t even give them a box of chocolates because I went into hospital with only basic toiletries and my husband wasn’t allowed to enter the hospital to bring in gifts for the staff. Yes, removal men work hard but so do thousands of other people who never get a tip. I think having my life saved far outweighs any work workmen do, but all I could say was ‘thank you.’

I tipped the removal men when I moved a few years ago. They were very fast, efficient and polite. The removal company did charge a lot but the men were only on minimum wage.

Alltogethernow

We moved last year, 4 guys including owner of removal company, we tipped £100 to be divvied out between them.

We tip anyone who will accept. I find tipping a kind action.

This might sound a bit silly, but maybe it is because they are handling your treasured possessions, your life in a lorry so to speak. It matters to you that the job is done carefully and efficiently.
I would certainly tip the doctors and nurses who looked after me, but it isn't allowed. My cousin was a doctor, a GP, and he ended up with so many bottles of whisky he didn't know what to do with them!