Co-Op Declares "No Holiday Tipping"

If it's November, it's time to start dreading the Holiday tipping ritual. How much do you give the super or the doorman or—no joke—the sanitation worker? Well, if you're the board of directors at a tony co-op, the solution is simple: Nothing. A thread on the Urban Baby message board has sparked a vigorous debate about noblesse oblige during a recession, beginning thus:

SANTA CLAUS CAME EARLY!!! Just got a notice from our co-op board: "In response to past complaints about favoritism, and in light of the current recession that has dealt a significant blow to many of our shareholders, the board of directors of (XYZ Building) has implemented a strict "no tipping" policy for the building staff." THANK YOU SANTA!!!

The raging debate includes such Ayn Randian insights as, "The building staff are free to find other employment," and rebuttals like, "And you're free to move out of a full-service building and sign for your own damn packages like the rest of us proles." Then a Co-op VP weighs in: "If you people only knew how much unionized (and most of them are union) building staff gets paid, you'd change your mind about tipping them. We have shareholders in our building who wish they had jobs like these. With regular overtime (that he works voluntarily), our building super is making six figures. PLUS free health benefits. PLUS a full pension. How many six-figure earners among us can expect tips?"

Ah, to be a superintendent—the American dream! These fat cats should be tipping the tenants! [Via Curbed]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on November 4, 2009 5:37 PM

Comments [rss]

vespavirgin

The door people are not making six figures, nor are the porters.

My building collects all the tips (checks only, made out to a fund--no shenanigans) and then distributes them among the maintenance staff. Granted, I live in a commie-style co-op, but I think that's fair. No one knows who has given what, everyone gets a little bonus. Obviously, individuals are still free to slip their favorite employees a little something-something.

Kim Bong Ill

No way. Tipping is fundamental to incentivizing good performance. If you think otherwise, you've never tried to get a drink at a London pub.

Outter Burrougher

just head a little west - i never had a problem getting a drink in dublin, and when we did try to tip it was handed back to us as a point of pride.

Gothamist_Cynic

How about doing away with tips and paying people in the service industry better?

Kojak

Wouldn't give them the incentive to provide better service, just to be more surly as they know more money isn't coming their way.

This isn't Japan. Tipping is too ingrained into the social fabric to get rid of.

cucarachita

HA! Good luck people! they'll still tip and the non-tippers will still be hated. This is humanity, remember?

Mr Mel

A doorman, porter, handyman, etc all make about the same money, about 40K a year. Of course they have great benefits, health insurance, vacations etc. In a 100 family full service building there are about 8 full time employees. That means each gets about $20,000. in tips. No way, never happens, that would mean $2000 per apartment. It's not even close.

Spirit of 76

Are there any laws in NYS or NYC that require salaries to be kept confidential? If not, there's a simple solution. Instead of saying, "no tipping," just reveal the actual salaries of the workers and let each tenant decide whether they're worth tipping and how much.

nicemarmot

Erm...I live in a full service coop, though not a fancy one. My understanding is that the holiday tips are like half their income. We gave full tips last year even though we lost a ton of income. Not doing it is just...douchey.

just saying

I think a lot depends on whether or not the building is union or non-union. There are still many non-union buildings, especially in the outer boroughs, where the employees (excepting the super) make just a little above the minimum wage and these employees don't get medical insurance either. I live in a 100+ unit, non-union co-op with a super, porter, and 2 doormen. However, the super is the only one with what I'd call a decent salary (along with a free apt. on the premises and medical insurance). The other employees barely make a living wage and they show up every day and do their jobs. It would be unconscionable not to tip them.

And yeah I know there are some supers who really rake in the extra money with kickbacks from contractors and *gratuities* from people seeking apartments.