Holiday tipping
There's the mailman and the doorman, the pet sitter and personal trainer, not to forget the housekeeper, home health care worker and many others.
Who do you tip this holiday season and how much?Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert, author, and founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, offers a simple checklist of which service providers you need to tip this holiday season and how much:Business (check corporate policy)• Clients: Business gift baskets of chocolate, edible fruit, nuts, cheese, wine, cookies, petite fours; golf balls and non-logo gifts.• CEO/Boss: Group gift to their favorite charity or nonprofit foundation• Assistant: Bonus or gift based on relationship length• Colleagues: gift they will like for sports, hobby, or dining, gift card.• Office Gift Exchange: don't go rogue, follow the spending guidelines.Education & Schools (follow policy)• Professor: greeting card, no gift• Teacher: Consider a group gift with parents pooled funds• Assistant /Aide: $25-$50 gift certificate• Multiple teachers: small gift, candle, baked goods, gift certificate.• Principal: Holiday card and baked goods• School secretary: cafe gift card, small gift or gift certificate• School nurse: cafe gift card, small gift or gift certificateHome or building personnel• Live-in help: between a week and a month's pay, plus a gift• Housekeeper: If they come once a week: equivalent of a day's pay, or $50. If they come daily: equivalent of a week's pay, and possibly a gift• Gardener: equivalent of a week's service• Landscaping crew: equivalent of a week's service, divided among the crew• Pool cleaning crew: equivalent of one session, divided among the crew.• Garage attendant: between $15 and $40 or give a small gift• Garbage/recycling: if city permits, $10-$30 each for extra holiday effort• Doorman: between $50-$100 each, or gift, depending on extra duties• Elevator operator and handyman: between $20-$50 each• Newspaper delivery: between $10-$35, or give a small giftHealthcare providers• Private health care nurse: week's pay or a gift of similar value• Home health employee: follow policy/generous gift basket of holiday treats• Nursing home staff: follow policy/gift basket of holiday treats for allPersonal grooming• Hairstylist, manicure, pedicure, specialist: equivalent of a visit• Barber: haircut and shave equivalent or give a gift• Massage therapist/personal trainer: session equivalent or give a giftPet care• Groomer: equivalent of one session or give a gift• Walker: week's pay equivalent or "1-2 visits" per DogWalker.com• Sitter: a week's pay and a paw print note from your petPackage and mail deliveryThe United States Postal Service provides the public with a tipping and gift receiving policy on their website, FedEx and UPS do not. The information provided for FedEx and UPS is from customer service representatives.United States Postal Service:• Employees may accept baked goods (homemade/store bought) items to share with the branch office. Customers may give edible arrangements, gift cards for merchandise or services valued up to $20 per interaction. Gifts cannot exceed $50 per calendar year. Gifting cash, VISA, MasterCard, or gift cards that may be used as cash are prohibited per USPS Employee Tipping and Gift Receiving Policy.FedEx:• Company policies discourage gift cash or gift cards. The driver will politely decline the holiday gratuity. If the customer is insistent, the driver may ultimately accept the gift.UPS• UPS does not have a limit; tipping is left to customer's discretion.Who not to tipAvoid giving tips to these people and send holiday e-cards instead: Accountant/CPA; attorney; auditor; banker; bookkeeper; dentist; doctor; executive coach; members, board of directors or trustees; seamstress/tailor; and veterinarian.Visit