It’s that time of year again to think of the tip jar, figuratively and literally.
Last year, readers had an outpouring of comments on holiday tipping: tipping trainers, tipping teachers, tipping doormen, even tipping dry cleaners.
But this year, as the economy — in and around the city as well as nationwide — goes
into a tailspin, New Yorkers are very likely facing income stagnation, if not outright job loss. So the topic of holiday tipping during a recession becomes a more delicate issue. Tipping is both seen as a thank you for a year of good service and also as a down payment for the next year.
So is it O.K. to cut back on tips? If you lose your job, should you still tip? Some etiquette experts suggest that if it’s a strain on your budget, you can show your appreciation in other ways: cards, recommendation letters, home-baked goods (but watch those bags of oranges). Or perhaps, if you get a new job in February, you can retroactively tip.
What do City Room readers think?
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