The Holiday Season has officially kicked off. With Black Friday and Thanksgiving over, holiday decorations are going up across town. With the arrival of the Holiday Season comes the question on the mind of many - “How Much Should I Tip?”
While some traditions will be put on hold, other traditions synonymous with the Holiday Season will continue, one of which is Holiday Tipping.
One could argue that Tipping is even more important this year than ever before - it has been a challenging year for all, and for those that are fortunate and have the ability to tip those that have helped throughout the Pandemic, this is the year to do so.
Building staff in Residential New York City buildings have been essential to all residents through the COVID-19 pandemic. Building Staff have been responsible for increased cleaning protocols, receiving and managing an exponential increase in deliveries, and checking in on vacant apartments for residents that have escaped to second homes.
We’ve adjusted our annual tipping guide to account for 2020 - some of the individuals that are key in a typical year such as your Manicurist may not have played a role in 2020 because of the Pandemic. Additionally, if you are considering giving more this year to your valued Building Staff and are concerned they will expect this amount in future years, consider stating in your note with the tip how grateful you are for all they’ve done during this challenging year to set expectations.
Our friends at Brick Underground publish a go-to holiday tipping guide, which has been circulating since 2013. We condensed it, and put our take on what is appropriate as you budget for your holiday tipping. Remember, these are simply guidelines. There are many factors that can influence the tipping decision such as the size of the building (a larger staff equates to smaller individual tips), level of service, seniority, and time in building. Additionally, owning versus renting in a building can play a big factor as well.
Of course, if you live in a building with a part-time doorman, virtual doorman, or no staff at all, the below levels could be adjusted downward.
Renters: Tips do not have to equate to the dollar amount you are paying each month for rent. If you receive a lot of packages, have a stroller that is carried in and out of the building, etc., factor this into your tip.
It is recommended that you tip in cash. Doorman, Concierge, Supers, etc. all of bills to pay like you and I- they are not looking for fruit cakes, cookies, or homemade gifts at the holidays!
Many buildings have organized drop off locations for your tips so you can safely give to your Building Staff rather than direct contact due to public health guidelines.
Tipping Guidelines
Super: $150-$200
Doorman/Concierge: $100-$150
Package Room: $50-$75 per individual*
Housekeeper: 1 Week Salary
Dog Walker: 1 Week Salary
Garage Attendant: $50-$100
Personal Trainer: $100*
Personal Assistant: 1 Week Salary
Hairdresser: $75-100*
*In the era of Coronavirus, it is important to remember the people fielding all those orders you are placing and the sheer volume of orders they are now receiving, just for you alone. We recommend tipping Package Room staff more than previous years. In most buildings it will be the package room employees, however, Doormen/Concierge are likely fielding these requests after hours.
Additionally, if someone such as a Trainer has moved to a Virtual Model and you continued to use their service, we recommend continuing to tip these individuals.
When: Most building staff will prefer to receive their tips in early December so they can plan their own holiday spending accordingly. Tips account for a large part of building staff’s anticipated income at this time of year.
This guide was presented in 2018 and has been re-shared to include updated information