Money Moral Dilemma: Should I accept tips because my colleagues do?

Torry_Quine

kellogs said:

I have never tipped a delivery driver, nor even considered doing so.  Does that make me a bad person?!

Neither have I.  So you're not alone. 
My husband, not a driver, wasn't allowed to accept gifts or money and had to tell people more than once not to.

LesD

Wow.....do people tip delivery drivers?

PeterbiltTrucker

You say you could do with the cash, well you certainly will if you lose your job. You have stated that you know your Company forbids it in their Terms of Employment so why are you so weak that you think because others may do it that you should. Man up and accept your Company's rules. You have no defence. If it worries you pick a Charity you like and if you are offered a tip tell them politely that you would rather they donated it to that Charity. Hopefully it will make you feel happier about yourself.

Gwanny007

Brynsam said:

Accept with good grace. Right now plenty of customers (I'm one of them) are extremely grateful to their delivery drivers and are very happy to show that by means of a modest tip.

If already in need of extra cash I wouldn’t recommend advising something that could risk a person their job, especially at this time! 

ripongrammargirl

Don’t do it. The work rules say no, so why question us on here? Sackable offence as gross misconduct. As it’s so unfair that some drivers are ignoring the rules, then a quick word with management should do the trick. If these drivers get sacked then that’s their fault for breaking the rules. You get paid to do a job so why do certain job roles feel they need tips? In all my years working in a supermarket restaurant, slaving away for free for all hours whilst training as a nursery nurse (now called apprenticeships), working in education and then care, I never once was given tips, thank you’s, presents etc so why should anyone else? Work hard, earn what you are worth for doing a good job and hold your head high for knowing you are following the rules and not doing what others do, which is against your companies policies!!!

Guss

Look you need to suss out what the company's take is on it on the ground so to speak, yes I know the rules are on their intranet but so are a lot of other things which are often ignored because they were written by someone who has no idea what it's like actually doing the job you do. Find a manager you get on with and sound them out about it. It may not be a sackable offence and may just warrant a telling off if they are even bothered about it. Try and speak to a manager who has worked their way up and not someone who has come in at a high level from day one. If the answer is no then as others have said you should stick to the policy. I've worked as a delivery driver, unlike probably every one of the previous respondents, so know what's it like first hand and the crap you have to put up with.

elsien

ripongrammargirl said:

Don’t do it. The work rules say no, so why question us on here? Sackable offence as gross misconduct. As it’s so unfair that some drivers are ignoring the rules, then a quick word with management should do the trick. If these drivers get sacked then that’s their fault for breaking the rules. You get paid to do a job so why do certain job roles feel they need tips? In all my years working in a supermarket restaurant, slaving away for free for all hours whilst training as a nursery nurse (now called apprenticeships), working in education and then care, I never once was given tips, thank you’s, presents etc so why should anyone else? Work hard, earn what you are worth for doing a good job and hold your head high for knowing you are following the rules and not doing what others do, which is against your companies policies!!!

Don't do it because it's gross misconduct - fine.
Asking the question of management - fine. Landing other drivers in it - not fine.
Saying no-one should have tips because you've never been offered any is ridiculous.  I've always done jobs where I can't accept tips.  Doesn't mean I begrudge other people getting them. 

Matt8888

In a strict answer to your question, no, you should not accept tips "because your colleagues do". What they do is irrelevant. In answer to a more general question, should you accept tips, that is up to you. There is an element of risk perhaps to your job, and only you can make a risk-based decision. I don't think there is any moral argument against taking a tip, but it is against company policy.

REJP

Don't take tips.  You know it is against your conditions of employment.  Just because others break their contract does not mean it is right to risk losing your job by doing wrong.  If you are short of money look for another job. 

androidgamer

i try to always tip a delivery driver and none have ever refused. it also helps if there's something wrong or missing and is seen as a nice gesture. as for company policies, they would have to stipulate what level of an offence it is or are they just them covering themselves. even the government says you don't need to declare your tips (unless you are talking an extra income amount)