Tipping Condo Association Employees – What Do You Do?

What a great question. I hope we get some answers soon, as this is a new experience for me as well.

I generally give cards with $20 bills to each of the front desk staff, plus the head custodian. I live in the Clara Barton.

555 Mass. is going in on a joint gift card for the head concierge this year. I believe they are asking $20 per unit for those who wish to contribute. Last year, my husband and I gave each member of the front desk staff $20 gift cards to Bed Bath and Beyond.

I usually give $25 to each front desk person. The only thing I asked for this year were my delivered packages and my apt. key. I received a card this year from Front Desk! There is so much turn-over. Do you give a holiday gift to someone new?

Yes! Give to the new staff too – you want them to LOVE you and take care of you!

Wow, it’s nice to see the generosity of many in the PQ!

for men..i give an Hermes pocket square… for the ladies… a small Hermes “ribbon” scarf..
they are more affordable than you might think…
xoxo

I think I need to get a part-time job as a condo staffer!

If that’s the case, then I’ll be submitting my resume this week. A new Gucci suit, Ferragamo shoes, 50′ plasma and S-Class Benz are some of the items on my wish list.

Hermes?!

Lady, I love you. Don’t forget me when Christmas rolls around this year ; )

At our building, we collect for the concierge and maintenance person. Completely voluntary.

What a racket. I wish I could sit at my desk all day taking personal calls and naps and then get Christmas presents.

we were thinking either $20 cash or similar in Starbucks – since they are on every corner here in our neighborhood.

They make my life so much easier every single day – how could I not take a moment to say thank-you.

I am sure even $10 would be appreciated – people like to be recognized and apprecaited no matter the amount.

DCGirl… you must not live at 555 Mass… they are literally on the phone all day long and make you feel terrible when you ask them for a package you’ve received. On top of not enforcing the 1 hour time limit on cars parked in the drive circle, you can bet the only tip I will be giving them is a swift kick in the you know where…

14- The front desk people in my building are always on the phone too. It seems universal.

I live at 555 as well and have a different experience with the front desk. They are always a pleasure to work with. I guess nice begets nice. I would never want to hurt them like my neighbor #14. I’ll participate in the resident tip.

Wow, $20 per unit for the joint 555 Mass gift card – how many units do you guys have in your building? I’m guessing 200-ish? So the concierge gets a $4000 gift card? That’s quite a gift!!

We live in an apartment building with a Conceirge, and feel this should be treated differently then a condo.

If you require alot of special service during the year, than you should tip accordingly.

We usually give a nice little gift for the conceirge and something to the extra nice maintenance staff who have actually done someething for us.

Closer to the holidays, we bring in some goodies for the entire staff to enjoy, this is always appreciated.

In addition, during the year, we write letters to the management for over and above deeds performed by members of the staff.

Everyday kindness goes along way and you will receive the same in return.

I’m from NY, and so I have always been sensitive to how much money is given to building staff there. That said, I never have given any where near what my friends and family in NY give (around $1000 – $1500 total). Last year I gave the concierge and maintenance man each $150. I will probably do the same again this year.

These are individuals doing this not the building. And it is for the entire staff. Not all units are participating. It is totally voluntary and resident (not Board) driven. There is no assessment — so no $4000 collected. Far from it. It would be great if we could give large bonuses. Many of them deserve it. All hail Jean!!!!

In my condo, we seem to have a new person almost every month. Regardless of who the new staff member is, their usual response is “No” or “I don’t know” and then it’s back to the phone. Bah Humbug to them!

In tipping, cash is king.

Gift cards are a scam. This goes for cards between family and friends. What you are really saying is that

“I put a little less than zero effort into getting you something. To make up for my laziness you will now be forced to spend this money at this retailer I’m picking for you. See, I signed the card that came with it too!”

Give the Conceirge cash and he/she can spend that money on family, pay down a credit card, go on a trip etc.

Hi, I live at 555 Mass. #3, how can I contact someone about contributing? I haven’t heard anything about this. Maybe b/c I missed the board meeting last week. Anyway, thanks and happy holidays!

thanks for all the comments everyone. this topic proved more popular than we thought.

that said and as a moderated discussion, note that from here on out please refrain from identifying specific condo staff in your comments as those comments will not be approved. already submitted comments that do so may be resubmitted for consideration; if a valid e-mail address was provided with the comment on this thread, it may be sent back via e-mail for the author’s reevaluation.

thanks, the Management

This is what our building is doing… Fair and equitable — no guilt or pressure.

“Residents and Owners,

As the holiday season fast approaches, many have asked what is appropriate to tip our staff. As many owners know, holiday bonuses are not a budgeted. Residents are not obligated to give any kind of holiday bonus, nor do you have to give through the Association. However, if you would like to give a holiday bonus to any of the staff at the building, please read on.

If you wish to contribute to a building tip, please slide a check under the door of unit XXX, or drop it by the condo meeting. You may indicate what percentage of your gift you would like to distribute for each staff member. Checks should be made payable to “XXX”"

For those with crummy service, how about sticking to the idea of a tip as “a favor or gift, usually in the form of money, given in return for service”? In many buildings it is ok to tip individuals as they perform services for you — handling a package delivery, for example. As per above it’s also your prerogative to deliver holiday tips yourself rather than through the condo association. That way you can reward the folks who help you out and exclude the others.