Made up toilet attendants jobs

RadoJo

As the OH of a musician, I often find myself in pubs and clubs that I wouldn't necessarily choose to frequent in support of his band. It is bad enough that I occasionally have to stand like Billy-no-mates when the other WAGs are AWOL, but I have noticed that a lot of places seem to be employing a person (or possibly just allowing this person) to stand in the toilet with perfume and sweets all over the place, pass you a towel, and expect money!

What I don't understand is how can this really be justified as a job? For my entire life (bar a couple of years of infancy) I have been able to wash and dry my own hands, and have rarely felt the need to consume a lolly-pop whilst in the ladies. Last week my OH came out of the mens looking confused and told me that the guy in there had reached across him whilst he was washing his hands to get a paper towel to hand to him when he had finished, then expected a tip!

I never give in to the customary British urge to tip just because it is expected, and as a result have been called 'tight' and have various eye-rolling gestures made at me by people of this occupation and on one occasion (a couple of years ago admittedly) the woman refused to let me dry my hands because I hadn't tipped her all night - she actually stood in front of the towels! I assume she thought I would cave, and hadn't reckoned on me just drying my hands on the insides of my pockets (what are they there for after all?!) but she genuinely felt aggrieved that I didn't require her 'services' and resented being expected to pay for them.

I am all for people being inventive when it comes to job hunting, but surely this is just a relatively polite form of extortion - people do feel obliged to tip, despite the clearly nonsensical nature of the job, but I don't understand why clubs and pubs either hire or at least allow people to do this?

Butlers1982

Its an upper class thing that i believe started in America in the big classy hotels.
Upper class people wouldnt dare use paper towels or hand dryers to dry their hands and used proper hand towels. At the time they were employed to keep the towels clean and tidy and pass them to people that needed them along with keeping the toilet tidy.

It has now been adapted into the Uk and i agree with you that its completly pointless someone passing you a paper towel, putting soap in your hand and then expecting a tip! !

pboae

They main reason they do it is to stop people dealing and using drugs in the toilets. People supposedly find it less threatening than having bouncers on the toilet doors.

The attendants are often classed as self-employed, and they don't get a wage, just the tips they make. It is dubious whether they really are self employed, but the jobs tend to be held by people who aren't in a position to risk losing their job by arguing with their employer.

nobblyned

I was in the toilets of a London club once early on in the evening where they had one of these chaps.

As the place was quiet I think he felt he could offer a slightly more individual service and proceeded to brush down the jacket I was wearing - whilst I was wearing it - whilst I was 'engaged' at the urinal.

I was so gobsmacked I think I left him a quid.

pinkshoes

I came across this in a club once, and the woman tried to charge me 50p for picking up a can of body spray and sniffing it!! It smelled rank, so I didn't use it, but she got really stroppy with her when I refused to give her 50p!!

As a general rule, I only ever tip if I think I'm getting a BETTER service than what I've already paid for!!

eyelinerprincess

I did that a couple of times in a club, but my main job was to clean up, make sure the toilets were tidy and free of puke :eek: but some of the places in Glasgow I've been to had EVERYTHING from deoderant and perfume to makeup and brushes!

esuhl

I have seen this often enough to not feel guilty about not tipping them. If someone deliberately blocks my way to the towels/drier I simply flick my hands in their face till they move or my hands are dry. It works a treat.

If they actually ask for a tip for handing me a towel, I ask them for a tip for not p***ing on the floor.

Strangely people have started referring to me as "that grumpy old git"... can't think why...

ajaxgeezer

Came across this in my home town of West Bromwich (of all places - did someone say upper class) and was completely gobsmacked. We just stared at each other for about 10 seconds, me not knowing what the hell was going on.

I'm all for tipping service, but please allow me the dignity of wanting it in the first place - I'll wash my own hands thanks very much.

James240

arrrggghhh i frickin hate these guys everytime u go in all they do is hassle u (well the ones in Croydon :mad: ) i htink they should be banned :mad:

Butlers1982

I simply flick my hands in their face till they move or my hands are dry

What a nice person you are with manners.

*Louise*

Hmmm..I obviously don't frequent posh enough clubs!!!

I wouldn't mind if some of the places near me had attendants...as long as they were making sure there was loor roll, and cleaning up any mess made by previous occupants.....(why do some people need to pee on the toilet seat, or not flush the loo????)

I would happily tip for that...but not for help drying my hands..Mummy says I'm a big girl now...:p :rotfl: