in response to mousekeeping

[tinksgilrs08]

Hello all as I sit here tonight checking the boards for all the useful information that comes here everyday i came across a topic of mousekeeping and I just wanted to let you guys knowthat as a fellow housekeeper that lives upnorth i appreciate that a majority of you do leave a tip for housekeeping, But when I got the second page and I read on a came across a few posts said that why do we need to tip housekeeping well let me tell you that when i clean rooms up here in the north i try to make a room as comfortable for that person who comes back from a hard day at work or a busy day with family and freinds beacuse I understand that they do not have the comforts of home with them and making a small room clean and neat is what i look forward to when i come home so why not other people to . You would be surprised what I have to clean but I do it becuase its my job and being tipped makes me feel like i am appreciated for the hard work that we do. Just think about that the next time you stay at a hotel and the beds are made and new towels are hung and the floors are vacumed .

 

[EPCOT.nut]

But they aren't paid a lower wage like wait staff are. Wait staff are tipped to make up for that pitiful wage they get. Housekeeping are paid a normal wage, and therefore I do not see it necessary to tip them.

I didn't highlight the wage, just the fact they are in the service industry. When someone waits on me or cleans up after me, I feel they deserve a tip.

 

[Sam02]

To the OP: Thank you for coming on here and giving us your side of tipping and housekeeping.

I am one of the people who grew up not tipping housekeeping. Mainly because we went on very few trips but also because housekeeping was paid, at least, minimum wage. I was raised that the people who got tips were the people in a service industry who either made less than minimum wage or had to pay the owner "rent" for their spot to work, ie waiters/waitresses and hair stylists. Yes housekeepers are in a service industry but so are cashiers, doctors, nurses, teachers, but you don't see people tipping them on a regular basis.

I think what bothers me is that tipping is something extra I could choose to give someone for service provided to me but now it seems like a lot of people see tipping as something they deserve for doing their job instead of a unexpected bonus. I know how hard housekeeping works, I have done the job, but a tip is just something I never thought I should automatically get. If I got one I was ecstatic, but I never expected them.

 

[mousebymarriage]

We usually tip mousekeeping $5 per day and I leave a little note with the money just to say "thank You". I leave the tip every morning because if you wait until the last day that person may not have been the one that cleaned your room all week, I want to make sure that the person who does the work each day gets the tip and the thank you note.

 

[reptar77]

I didn't highlight the wage, just the fact they are in the service industry. When someone waits on me or cleans up after me, I feel they deserve a tip.

I'm am not being combative, I'm just exploring the topic

Where do you stop? Do you tip the counter service people? or even outside of Disney....The kid that serves you at Wendys, Starbucks, the bagger at publix etc ?

My personal feeling is if someone is paid an hourly wage, that is not based on tips, I do not tip unless they have gone above and beyond. I hate seeing the tip jar at my local starbucks, the employees feel they should be tipped for doing their job.
In regards to Disney, I have yet to see mousekeeping go above and beyond in my room. From what I have read on the boards they only do when you leave a tip. Kind of backwards.

 

[figmentmom]

We always tip Mousekeeping $1 per person per day. It's just a courtesy. :wave:

 

[EPCOT.nut]

I didn't highlight the wage, just the fact they are in the service industry. When someone waits on me or cleans up after me, I feel they deserve a tip.

I'm am not being combative, I'm just exploring the topic

Where do you stop? Do you tip the counter service people? or even outside of Disney....The kid that serves you at Wendys, Starbucks, the bagger at publix etc ?

My personal feeling is if someone is paid an hourly wage, that is not based on tips, I do not tip unless they have gone above and beyond. I hate seeing the tip jar at my local starbucks, the employees feel they should be tipped for doing their job.
In regards to Disney, I have yet to see mousekeeping go above and beyond in my room. From what I have read on the boards they only do when you leave a tip. Kind of backwards.

Honey, I am not about to go toe-to-toe with you about where I tip and why. My Dad would call that a Pi--ing contest! :lol:

It is OK not to tip, it's OK to have an opinion, it's OK to tip. It's all good!

 

[SweetMagic]

*leaves $5 for advise, gives high five to Epcot.nut's dad*

 

[EPCOT.nut]

*leaves $5 for advise, gives high five to Epcot.nut's dad*

I know...my Dad can raise some eyebrows with his sayings. He used to ask us the above when we challenged him as kids. I never knew what to say to that one. :lol:

I could start a whole thread of my Dad's sayings.

"The life you save may be your own!"

 

[H20Babie]

I didn't even get that as a kid. My dad would just grab us by our ear lobes and knock our heads together until we got some common sense :lol:

But as to the mousekeeping, I'm a tipper. I also worked as a cocktail waitress and shooter girl in my younger days so I also tend to overtip. I may have been paid minimum wage, but that did not nearly make up for the crap I had to put up with--passed out customers, girl fights, puke. The tips were the only reason I stayed at it so long. Now, I even make up my own "Mousekeeping" envelopes with Disney characters and the theme of the trip (for example, this year at the Poly, the characters are all dressed as pirates).

Remember, TIPS: To Insure Proper Service! Taking care of the people that serve us well will only bring about the return of the favour.

It makes me happy to make them happy. Just because they work in the Magic, doesn't necessarily mean that they feel the Magic

 

[MichWolv]

But they aren't paid a lower wage like wait staff are. Wait staff are tipped to make up for that pitiful wage they get. Housekeeping are paid a normal wage, and therefore I do not see it necessary to tip them.

Housekeeping in hotels are paid "normal" if you mean that thehy must be paid at least the federal minimum wage, while waitstaff are indeed permitted by law to be paid less than that, because of tips. That doesn't mean, however, that housekeepers don't expect tips. Indeed, I believe that's why they are willing to accept minimum wage -- they'll get some tips to supplement that.

If we thought the purpose of tips was just to make for the fact that the waiter is getting less than minimum from the restaurant, we'd only tip about $2.24 for an hour of work, because that's the amount below the regular minimum wage that waitstaff are permitted to be paid. But I'm guessing we tip a bit more than that.

The fact is that tipping of hotel housekeepers is generally considered appropriate, and those who do that for a living do indeed expect that tips will supplement their paycheck. It is also a fact that while virtually everybody tips their waiter, a substantial percentage of people do not tip housekeeping.

That being said, a tip is a tip, and until they call it a service charge (like for DDE users), it is optional and voluntary. So tip if you want, and don't tip if you don't, but please don't base your decision on the $2/hour difference between minimum wage for waiters and minimum wage for housekeepers. Doing that is basically letting the federal government decide who you tip and who you don't.

 

[elizs77]

I'm am not being combative, I'm just exploring the topic

Where do you stop? Do you tip the counter service people? or even outside of Disney....The kid that serves you at Wendys, Starbucks, the bagger at publix etc ?

My personal feeling is if someone is paid an hourly wage, that is not based on tips, I do not tip unless they have gone above and beyond. I hate seeing the tip jar at my local starbucks, the employees feel they should be tipped for doing their job.
In regards to Disney, I have yet to see mousekeeping go above and beyond in my room. From what I have read on the boards they only do when you leave a tip. Kind of backwards.

I share this opinion. I get tired of seeing the tip jar everywhere! I will totally tip for good service, but I don't like it being expected by any service any where. And yes, my first jobs were grunt work in the service industry (which, by the way, I think everyone should have to work in the service industry at some point!).

As far as housekeeping/mousekeeping goes, I am an end-of-the-trip tipper. I know that different people can clean the room on different days, but I shouldn't have to PAY them to make me a towel character. I agree - I only hear about mousekeeping that goes above and beyond after a tip is left. I've always had clean rooms, but nothing special. And I certainly wouldn't tip if the room was not cleaned very well.

 

[Flower'sChild]

But they aren't paid a lower wage like wait staff are. Wait staff are tipped to make up for that pitiful wage they get. Housekeeping are paid a normal wage, and therefore I do not see it necessary to tip them.

I agree with you. I don't see why you have to tip them. I have no problem with them getting tips, but it's not something you have to do.

 

[Balasada]

Here is the problem with Disney. The house keepers get to keep the tips because they are called gifts and are paid the regular pay scale. All the tipped cast members only get the tips along with the lower pay scale. Plus they have to report some of the tips as income for tax purposes. The house keepers do not.

 

[Sam02]

Housekeeping in hotels are paid "normal" if you mean that must be paid at least the federal minimum wage, while waitstaff are indeed permitted by law to be paid less than that, because of tips. That doesn't mean, however, that housekeepers don't expect tips. Indeed, I believe that's why they are willing to accept minimum wage -- they'll get some tips to supplement that.

If we thought the purpose of tips was just to make for the fact that the waiter is getting less than minimum from the restaurant, we'd only tip about $2.24 for an hour of work, because that's the amount below the regular minimum wage that waitstaff are permitted to be paid. But I'm guessing we tip a bit more than that.

The fact is that tipping of hotel housekeepers is generally considered appropriate, and those who do that for a living do indeed expect that tips will supplement their paycheck. It is also a fact that while virtually everybody tips their waiter, a substantial percentage of people do not tip housekeeping.

That being said, a tip is a tip, and until they call it a service charge (like for DDE users), it is optional and voluntary. So tip if you want, and don't tip if you don't, but please don't base your decision on the $2/hour difference between minimum wage for waiters and minimum wage for housekeepers. Doing that is basically letting the federal government decide who you tip and who you don't.

I do like the comparison you made between waiters/waitresses and housekeeping and how little a difference there is between thier wage. But what I bolded in your post is why I probably don't tip as much or as often as I could. Tips used to be considered something given freely and in your words "optional and voluntary." Now it seems like everybody expects to be tipped and count on the tips to supplement their income. And in some cases if you don't tip you get worse service. One of my mom's and grandma's favorite savings was "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Expecting tips is the same thing. If the job you have doesn't cover your living expenses than either get a second job or get a better paying job. Don't expect me to make up the money difference for you.

Now with that said I grew up in a house where 1 parent worked - paid all the bills, parents then divorced - mom worked and went to school to support me and my sister, mom remarried - both parents worked multiple jobs to pay the bills, I grew up got married - spouse and I worked multiple and crappy jobs to pay the bills, etc. Today - spouse has a good paying job and is going to school and I will graduate college in May. I've probably been all over the map income wise so I tend not to buy the arguement that there is nothing better out there. Jobs may be hard to come by but they are not impossible to find.

Everyone is correct is saying that it is an individual's choice to tip and that it how it should be. It is also true therefore that service should not change regardless of if one tips or not, which; in my experience, tends not to be what happens.

Once again putting flame retardent whole body suit on.

 

[elizs77]

Just another idea - isn't the automatic tip on the DDP a reason that is often cited for a perceived decline in service at Disney restaurants? My point is just that the tip shouldn't be expected, it should be earned. And that goes for wait staff as well - a waiter/waitress who rocks like the one we had last night at Chili's is going to get a great tip; one who never appears isn't going to get as much. For someone whose salary doesn't typically include tips, it's going to take going beyond and above to earn a tip. For me, it's a sign of appreciation at the end of a trip, not a daily payment for cleaning my room.

During our last trip in 2006 (first w/ DH and DS), we spent a week at the Wilderness Lodge. I really was hoping we'd get a towel animal or something special. We got NOTHING. I certainly didn't want to pay for it in advance, but I would have been happy and much more generous with my tip if we'd gotten those special touches I had read so much about.

 

[TwoTigersMom]

I tip mousekeeping/housekeeping per day. I've never come back from the parks to an unclean room. Most of the time there has either been a towel animal or holder made for our toothbrushes or the kid's stuffed animals were arranged really cute.

As far as tipping others in the service industry, no I don't tip everyone. I read someone's post here mentioning how doctors, nurses, teachers, etc were in the service industry as well. Yes and they get tipped as well, IMO. Most of us with school age children have bought Christmas, end of the year and Teacher's Appreciation gifts for their teachers. I have brought pizza or cakes to a nurses station for the staff when one of my family members have been hospitalized. I've been known to take cookies to my doctors appointments or brownies. I usually leave some sort of gift for the postman in our mailbox at Christmas time. To me those are all forms of tips. It's a little something extra to show them I appreciate what they do for me or mine.

 

[kimmychad]

I was a banquet waitress for ten years. It was a rare occasion that we were tipped, but most people believe "we" get the 15% that was tacked onto a wedding. We would get a lousy $100 for the entire night of waiting hand and foot over 20 - 30+ people for four hours without even a thank you. So my husband and I are neurotic about tipping and normally always "overtip". We try to keep it neat, but my 4 year old creates a disaster wherever he goes. After our last two trips (8 nights each) we tipped $80 each time. The housekeepers seem to usually be understaffed and are working from the crack of dawn to early evening.

We count that as a service position and gladly show our appreciation. I am shocked that so many people do not tip. On most cruise lines, the tip is taken directly from your room tab before you leave now because so many people were stiffing the staff.

So any mousekeeps/ housekeepers out there...thank you. I just wish I could afford one of you for my own home!

wow. i wish i made 100 for four hours. they could keep the tip

 

[kimmychad]

Just another idea - isn't the automatic tip on the DDP a reason that is often cited for a perceived decline in service at Disney restaurants? My point is just that the tip shouldn't be expected, it should be earned. And that goes for wait staff as well - a waiter/waitress who rocks like the one we had last night at Chili's is going to get a great tip; one who never appears isn't going to get as much. For someone whose salary doesn't typically include tips, it's going to take going beyond and above to earn a tip. For me, it's a sign of appreciation at the end of a trip, not a daily payment for cleaning my room.

During our last trip in 2006 (first w/ DH and DS), we spent a week at the Wilderness Lodge. I really was hoping we'd get a towel animal or something special. We got NOTHING. I certainly didn't want to pay for it in advance, but I would have been happy and much more generous with my tip if we'd gotten those special touches I had read so much about.

i agree with everything you said. well done

 

[kimmychad]

I do like the comparison you made between waiters/waitresses and housekeeping and how little a difference there is between thier wage. But what I bolded in your post is why I probably don't tip as much or as often as I could. Tips used to be considered something given freely and in your words "optional and voluntary." Now it seems like everybody expects to be tipped and count on the tips to supplement their income. And in some cases if you don't tip you get worse service. One of my mom's and grandma's favorite savings was "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Expecting tips is the same thing. If the job you have doesn't cover your living expenses than either get a second job or get a better paying job. Don't expect me to make up the money difference for you.

Now with that said I grew up in a house where 1 parent worked - paid all the bills, parents then divorced - mom worked and went to school to support me and my sister, mom remarried - both parents worked multiple jobs to pay the bills, I grew up got married - spouse and I worked multiple and crappy jobs to pay the bills, etc. Today - spouse has a good paying job and is going to school and I will graduate college in May. I've probably been all over the map income wise so I tend not to buy the arguement that there is nothing better out there. Jobs may be hard to come by but they are not impossible to find.

Everyone is correct is saying that it is an individual's choice to tip and that it how it should be. It is also true therefore that service should not change regardless of if one tips or not, which; in my experience, tends not to be what happens.

Once again putting flame retardent whole body suit on.

wow so many good posts tonight its scary. i work 2 jobs so that i can afford disney, and i know how much i'll be taking home when i get paid. it would make me nervous counting on people to tip me enough to pay bills. and complaining about how much you make and that you need tips doesnt make sense to me, if my job didnt pay enough id get a different one

 

[Kriszee1]

wow. i wish i made 100 for four hours. they could keep the tip

ooooohhh no...try 8 1/2 - 9 hours:hammer:
pre-party set up...cocktail hour....clean....4 - 5 hour reception with 6 course dinner....clean...breakdown....set up for the next function. This could be setting up an entire room for 100 to 350 people. People never leave when the party is over so you can wind up staying an additional hour waiting for them to LEAVE! Not an easy job at all, in fact I sometimes miss the workout it gave me. My arms were never this flabby! A friend of mine did this for so long, she just had to have her hip replaced at 60 years old. I will never do it again for any kind of money.

It was the best when a little old lady would hand you a $1 and say thank you. I would always return the $$, all I needed was the thanks. It is never expected. Mousekeeping is never around when you spend most of the days in the parks. Since we don't see them, we tip them to say thank you.

When it comes to mousekeeping, my son is autistic and we are forced to eat in the room many times because of the glares and rolling eyes we get when we are out. Unfortunately, I can't bring a vaccuum with me. He loves cheese doodles and chips. We leave the tip simply for the vaccuuming!