I do tip most of the time now, assuming I have the cash on me. I also am not going to judge someone who didn’t and if someone judges me based on one interaction, I probably have no interest or care in their opinion anyway.

with that said, most van drivers for us have another full time position within the hotel that also has van driving as one of its duties. I’ve seen front desk workers, maintenance workers, managers etc all do it, this they are getting above minimum wage to perform that task.

I think most of the militant defenders of always tipping are old school folks or ones that were simply told this when they started and have blindly followed that mantra.

I was responding to your post where you said ‘in [mine] mind, tipping is irrational’.
I said that it would see that you would have never worked in the service industry for tips if you saw it as irrational.
And if you did work in the service industry, and thought tipping was irrational, did you accept those tips still or stick to your values?

I'm not a fan of tipping and I also feel that it has gotten out of control in some sectors of the service industry; but as a person who has worked for tips, I know what it is like and since as you say it is the societal norm - I tip and tip generously (with good service).

Your per diem (M&IE) has an amount for INCIDENTALS (like a tip).
MEALS AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.

And I have said in this thread and others (and it seems to be different at different locations which Ican definitely see), but when I drove the van I made less than minimum wage with the expectation of. Tips of which the SWA crews always tipped$3.50 for the entire crew.
I hear it isn’t much more now which in and of itself is a little sad too.

It sounds like we are more of the same page than different except for the irrational part.

I didnt mean all tipping is irrational and I probably could have picked a better word. I just find it kind of funny that if the van driver gets paid an appropriate amount to drive the van (which now I know some don't thanks to you), and I'm tipping him to handle my luggage (which again I do tip for because its the societal standard) when I can easily go over and pick up my own bag. If I was older, or maybe my bag was really heavy and he offered to help, then that tip was completely earned.

We could just paste this into a contract discussion thread...

If they help with the bags and doors also giving advice on local attractions than I tip. If theres no service no tip. Tips are not mandatory there extras.

Working on the flight line we used to get tipped ~$5 for dumping a lav, sometimes even $20 per dump. It was a nice perk during a day of sewage dripping down your arm. I never judged a crew that didn't tip though, as it was part of my duties that I was getting an hourly wage for.

I see the van in the same light. I tip a buck or two when I have the cash, extra when the driver does a good job. But I don't lose sleep if my wallet is empty and I can't pay up. On the flip side I've gone to the ATM and come back to the front desk to find a driver that I felt really deserved a tip.

How dare you have a rational, common sense reply to such a heated debate. Standby for the dollar nazis to tell you that stopping by the bank and always carrying $100 singles on you is simple.

Prepare for the hate because you make a decent living, one you spent time, money and effort on therefore you are morally obliged to always tip someone that performs a job requiring no advanced knowledge, training or financial requirement for perform of which they are probably already getting paid well above minimum wage for since it is secondary to their main job at said hotel.

Brace for the backlash, as you must always tip and there is never a reason why you may not tip.

All in good fun, but trust me there are those on this board that would just assume stone you to death for not tipping a van driver and fail to even acknowledge the most common sense retorts, reasonable people like yourself write.

Hydrostream -

How would have felt about the crews if you weren't getting minimum wage, expected tips to make a descent wage, and you knew the crews were getting money to tip you but weren't and keeping that WHOLE $1 for themselves. Might you have a different opinion then?

Good for you for going above (tracking them down through the front desk) and beyond to make sure the driver got a tip if you felt s/he did a good job. I'd venture that most would not.

Cyio - I still haven't seen a 'common sense' retort to not giving the $1 when it is provided in your M&IE. Do you have one?

If people are accepting jobs BELOW minimum wage to only rely on the paying public to support their income, that’s their fault. The whole waiter/waitress/bartender/etc. setup puts financial obligations on the paying public’s rather than the employer.

It doesn’t make much sense for someone to provide a service (that they’re being paid for), accomplish the service, and for the customer to pay extra for said person to provide it.

Now, if someone goes above and beyond, I’ll definitely leave a gratuity, but that’s the definition of gratuity:

noun gra·​tu·​i·​ty: something givenvoluntarily or beyond obligationusually for someservice

Show me in my CBA where it states I am obliged or expected to tip from my Per Diem?

To tip somebody because they’re on time and drive safely is a ludicrous argument.