Originally Posted by
Fly Boy Knight
A hotel shuttle van is a service that my company requires them to provide (by contract) otherwise, they would find another hotel or get a company car at that location.
On that note, I do not tip the van drivers. Regardless of their pay, it's a job and it has a paycheck, just like my job. We both are "at will" employees and can leave the job at any time. I agree that the tipping culture accepted in our society these days has gone a little too far.
Now, on that note, I am NOT like Mr. Pink from "Reservoir Dogs". I don't choose not to tip because I don't believe in the merit of monetary gains for good work. If a tip is earned (doing things that are above and beyond the required), I will gladly pay it. If the hotel is SWAMPED, it is a blizzard outside, the guy gives up his lunch break to give me a ride to somewhere other than the airport, they have sure as crap earned a good tip and I will gladly tip him. However, even $2 a day on a monthly / trip basis will result in another detraction from my paycheck if I do it for EVERY driver and, since my company does not reimburse van driver tipping, I do not tip them unless it is darn well earned.
This issue is like beating a dead horse. People who don't want to tip will have 100 reasons not to tip even if like the poster quoted above doesn't realize that the company IS reimbursing him for tipping through the per diem (also known as M&IE). I'm sorry if you find it inadequate per diem.
Also FBK, at least when I was a van driver I made much less than minimum wage, and like a waitress, I depended on my good service and on time performance to EARN those tips. Taking a patron out to eat was against the rules btw, but I fudged them especially for the airline crews who stayed at our hotel.
FBK - I see in a later post that you tip servers and bartenders, and having been one yourself you say, you sometimes tip 50%!!! Can you explain the difference in attitude you have between servers and van drivers, or does it make a difference if you are eating or drinking at the hotel's restaurant and bar?
Tipping is out of control, I agree, but at least we ought to be correct in our motives if you decide against it.
USMCFLYR