Till Lauer / The New York Times
Tipping during the holidays is a time-honored tradition, but because there are no hard and fast rules, it can end up being one more stressful holiday chore.
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Silverado High School teacher Jason Rowland was “raised on tips” growing up in Las Vegas, as his mother worked in the casino industry.
He also worked at resorts throughout college as a bellman and pool cabana host, easily recalling stories of generous tips from customers — those extra dollars that made his life easier.
“There’s a lot of people in this town whose livelihoods rely directly on tipping,” Rowland, 43, said. “Tipping is definitely a Vegas thing … it goes together, kind of like a dog and a leash.”
For some, the holiday season brings another opportunity to be generous as we enjoy taking care of those who make our lives easier.
It’s not uncommon to give a holiday gift — cash, a gift card or item — to hair stylists, landscapers, educators, the newspaper delivery person and others. The amount of the gift isn’t as important as the gesture, Rowland said.
Rowland received holiday cards, a candle and chocolates from his students. He said that even though “he’s not a big gift-taker, it was the gesture” that he appreciates. He calls this “the gift of human kindness.”
“Give what you can,” Rowland said. “I think as much as giving (matters), it’s (more) how it makes the person you’re giving to feel. Whatever you’re comfortable giving, I think it’s the purpose and the will.”
A survey of 1,025 American adults on holiday tipping by Nasdaq found that about 36% don’t intend to tip anyone extra during the holidays, and the majority of people who will only plan to tip an extra 5%.
Dr. Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor of hospitality at UNLV, said “there’s a lot of consumer backlash” toward tipping due to inflation, low wages and fear of a recession.
Instead of giving a service worker cash, Belarmino said many are opting for a gift card in smaller amount — like a $5 coffee shop card — or homemade baked goods. This provides people with a way to still give while being “savvy and creative” with their spending, she said.
“One of the things that we might see this year is, if you’re normally giving someone cash, perhaps this is going to be a year where you give them a gift instead,” Belarmino said. “(But) anything is going to be appreciated.”
Service providers — babysitters, food delivery drivers and nail technicians — are recipients of monetary tips throughout the year, while teachers receive more physical gifts. For instance, a barber might be given $5 after providing a haircut, while a child’s schoolteacher receives flowers on the last day of school.
The relationship a person has with their service provider will influence what they decide to give, Belarmino said.
She stressed that people should be cognizant of the “appropriateness” of the gift they’re giving, because some gifts may not always be appropriate for everyone.
For people with food allergies, it may not be smart to give them a bag of peanuts. Those recovering from alcohol addiction should not be given wine. And you certainly shouldn’t give a hairdresser the same present you would give a significant other, Belarmino said.
Culturally insensitive gifts are also a big red flag, she stressed.
If you are giving cash, there’s no set formula in determining the right amount, as there are many factors to consider, including how long you’ve used someone’s service and past gift history.
Some opt for an extra payment in December, so instead of giving a landscaper $100 for the month, increase the payment to $200. You could also give a flat tip, like $20.
Sometimes even a simple conversation can go a long way, Rowland said. One afternoon, he had a conversation with his local mailman and discovered that the man had moved to Las Vegas from Hawaii and had a young boy.
He thinks that showing a person you care by simply having a conversation with them can be great for people on a tight budget.
“When we think of tipping, we think of dollars or gifts, but an ‘attaboy’ or ‘attagirl’ is enough. Just a conversation is enough,” he said.
