How much should I tip my maid?

[Kent Wang]

I've arranged to have her come over once a month. She's charging $45 for about two hours of work. The price is a bit high but I don't think she is an illegal. Should I tip her maybe $5 to make it an even $50?

 

[imageWIS]

Tip her? Why? You are paying her for a job, and a job that you think might be a bit high at that! Just get her something nice around the holiday season.

Jon.

 

[Get Smart]

I agree. I think *we're* too overly concerned about tipping everyone around us. A nice holiday gift is the best option, along with any other service folks you have personal contact with on a regular basis (gardeners, mailmen, etc)

 

[Margaret]

I don't tip independent contractors -- it all goes to them anyway.

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

I've arranged to have her come over once a month. She's charging $45 for about two hours of work. The price is a bit high but I don't think she is an illegal. Should I tip her maybe $5 to make it an even $50?

Why not just ask for documentation?

 

[philosophe]

Tipping isn't necessary in this situation. As others have noted, a holiday bonus is in order. We give a bonus of twice the regular fee to our housecleaner at Christmas/New Year's.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by Margaret

Why not just ask for documentation?

I would personaly not care less; in the UK the law is such that it is not my problem, just theirs. I don't know about the US.

 

[Kent Wang]

Thanks for the advice. I'll stiff her unless she performs some extraordinary service like cleaning up evidence of a murder.

I have a friend who has a car wash service, which is similar to maid service -- he drives out to the client and cleans their car -- and he tells me that he gets tipped all the time.

I don't care whether she is an illegal or not; I just suspect that an illegal would be much cheaper.

 

[Margaret]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Thanks for the advice. I'll stiff her unless...


That is not tip enough?

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

I have a friend who has a car wash service, which is similar to maid service -- he drives out to the client and cleans their car -- and he tells me that he gets tipped all the time.


That's different. Anything involving cars tend to involve tipping (valet, cleaning, etc...).

Jon.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Thanks for the advice. I'll stiff her unless she performs some extraordinary service like cleaning up evidence of a murder.

I have a friend who has a car wash service, which is similar to maid service -- he drives out to the client and cleans their car -- and he tells me that he gets tipped all the time.

I don't care whether she is an illegal or not; I just suspect that an illegal would be much cheaper.
Is that like car detailing?

 

[imageWIS]

Upon further consideration, if she is good looking you should tip her 3 inches.

Jon.

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Is that like car detailing?
I believe that's what he calls it.

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

Upon further consideration, if she is good looking you should tip her 3 inches.

Jon.

esp if she works in a french maid outfit. then give her all 4 inches.

 

[Kent Wang]

Yes, I keep that extra inch in reserve and unleash it only for special occasions.

I suppose she could be an illegal French maid.

 

[Goblin]

I tip "service workers" whether it's called for or not, mainly because I've been there, and it does make a difference. Even if it doesn't make a significant difference to their bottom line, it makes people feel appreciated and is just a nice thing to do. If that person reciprocates with better service in the future, as sometimes happens, it's money well spent. If not, you're out $5-10 that would have just gone to the commemorative Mao trinket industry anyway.

But yeah, I wouldn't do it out of any feeling of obligation, or out of some weird-ass desire to bond with the help. I just do it to help somebody else who's where I was at not too long ago. It's not like a moral imperative or anything.