My 93-year-old mother-in-law is in an independent living facility, which also has assisted living apartments as well. Guessing there are maybe 150 or so units. She pays about $60K a year in rent, and she gets meals, trips to doctors and shopping, and the usual entertainment and activities.
They have sent everyone a letter asking for tips for all the workers (kitchen, drivers, gardeners, handyman, front desk...), suggesting 10-15% of annual rent is appropriate.
It seems like $6,000 - 9,000 in tips for the year is excessive and even inappropriate. I suppose she could estimate the value of the meals and trips and tip on that, but whatever she tips is going to be distributed among all staff.
So she is wondering what she should do, and asking friends what they do. I fear others will say they tip more than they do to look good to their friends.
I'd like to know if this is a common thing that these places do, and if so, if the request for so much money is way too much. It seems to me that the facility owner is merely getting the renters to help pay their costs.
The expectation of tipping has gotten absolutely out of control. I just went to a locksmith shop today and had four copies of my house key made, and their credit card machine was actually programmed like a restaurant's and it asked how much I wanted to tip. The cashier averted his eyes momentarily so as to avoid seeing how much I was going to tip, so he didn't see me put a big, fat $0. I couldn't believe it!
The administration of the facility has no right to ask the residents to start tipping the help. That is so wrong and they should be reported.
I always wrote a check for $100 at Christmas for the staff at mom's AL, plus I brought in sweets and treats for everyone.
Moderator: you can delete this thread if you like.
I worked in an AL facility for some time. I have never heard of aides, housekeeping, kitchen workers, or anyone else on staff ever receiving tips. No way.
AL's and independent-living facilities is collect obscene amounts of money from every resident occupying one of their places. Things like meals, housekeeping, handyman services, aide care, and transportation to appointments are why seniors move to their places. These things are included in the obscene amount of rent that gets paid every month.
So the AL or independent-living community who wants residents to start tipping the staff should reconsider what they do with the money they collect. Instead of making shareholders who own stock in these places richer, they can start paying their help better wages. Then there would be no need to ask the staff to demean themselves by begging for tips from the elderly residents.
If I were you I would take this letter they sent your MIL and make some copies. Send one to your state's Ombudsman's office. Send one to yoru state's Attorney General. Send one to your state's Agency on Aging (if there is one). This may actually be illegal to hit them up for money.
In the meantime, tell your MIL that she already pays for all of these things in her rent payment every month and that she should not give a 'tip' for a service she's already paid very well for.
I think this has already been going on for years and years. Maybe forever??