Holiday

[walkingal]

I've always given a gift to our letter carriers, and to our trash collectors as well.  I usually give a fast food gift card to our letter carrier and leave it by our mailbox.  I know their schedule when they're off.  I guess we're lucky, our carriers are good.  And I give cash to our trash collectors.  They've had an especially bad two or more years with employees quiting and not being able to replace them.  For a long while, there was only one trash collector on our route, just him and the driver.  And they take care of us, always putting our cans and the lids back inside our yard.  

[catter70]

Seems like I have a different carrier every week. I used to give my regular carrier a gift card to the Scheetz, but she went to a different route and now they change them around regularly.

[walkingal]

@Foxxee  Oh, my Goodness, how sad!  What state do you live in?  

[Meowingkitty]

I couldn't pick my mailman out of a lineup. No clue who he is. I don't buy for garbage men, mailmen, UPS guy etc. I don't get the same person twice. Why would I give my garbage man a gift? All he does is sit in a truck and push a button. 

[Major Shopper]

This year I am giving a $25 GC to Giant grocery store and a large bag of assorted Ghirardelli Squares to my mailperson, dog groomer, and garbage collector. Everyone needs groceries!

I give the $25 GC every year and switch the candy brand. I always get a thank-you card in return. 

[CAcableGirl2]

If you've had great service, then a small gift would be appreciated.  Everyone likes to appreciated for the work that they do.  Who knows, they may be dealing with unruly customers along their route, family drama, health issues or whatever life is throwing their way, and your little gift may make their day.  I always remember all those "essential" workers just kept working during this pandemic when no one knew if the virus stayed on packaging for several days, and you can only imagine the number of people that have come in contact with your packages as they traveled.  Many didn't have a choice to stay home, so I always try to thank them every chance I get.

The people on the nextdoor site are brutal and post immediately when their service isn't perfect from the trash company, restaurants, mail person, UPS driver, and others, so I'm sure government employees are taking verbal abuse from some customers all the time, and your thoughtfulness would be a nice surprise. 

[spent2much]

We used to give our mail carrier a card and $ each year, but now we have so many different carriers that I wouldn't know who to give it to.

[amyb]

Some years ago I did...I actually knew her name, she was the regular mailperson then, was friendly and conscientious about putting the mail in neatly, (ohers shoved it in, things crunched up.

I gave her something the years she was our mail person.

Also, had a repeat UPS guy for a while years ago, very polite and professional...gave him a gift. He actually was so sweet, he came back with a small bag of treats for me too. That was the only timeframe I did that, because I truly knew who was delivering and they made an impression. Now I couldn't tell you who delivers...it's someone different all the time, when I do see them, and I rarely see them.

So yes, if I'd made a real connection and appreciate the way they provide the service, feels good to thank them with something extra this time of year.. Otherwise, just random, and they all feel random now...no. 

[Pook]

They are federal employees with good pay and benefits unlike workers receiving minimum wage or less.  I know of several who were suspended for accepting gifts.  I would never jeopardize anyone's job.  Throughout the year I frequently give baked goods, snacks, drinks, etc to my mail carriers but nothing else!  Our local carriers are told when hired not to accept ANY gifts to be safe from discipline.  

Employee Tipping and Gift-Receiving Policy

All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Exec­utive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period.

[manny2]

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@nana59 wrote:

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@Foxxee wrote:

I do even though I think he's the worst mail carrier I ever had.  

I used to give the trash men a gift too until the state said we couldn't anymore.  Never did get a good answer why not.  "I don't know why," doesn't cut it.   

I'd give my UPS and FedEx driver a gift, too, but with so many temporaries used, I never know when my full time drivers will be delivering.  

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how would the State know you gave your trashman a gift?!

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They won't, so I give mine a gift too. You just have to be discreet.