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

mecoprop

1. Your terms of employment explicitly forbid it, so why are you asking anyone else? How simple can this be?

2,. I am utterly disgusted by the level of dishonesty being condoned and encouraged by some answers here.

3. As can so clearly be seen in this thread, tipping encourages greed and dishonesty - it is corruption.

4. Try tipping a policeman or a judge and you will go to jail.  ALL tipping is a form of bribery and corruption and it should all be made illegal without exception.

ginger_chocolate

Surely the sensible thing to do if you're concerned about this is speak to your line manager? Explain that you have been in an awkward situation where a customer attempted to tip you and you said no as you were under the impression it was against company rules but you feel there should be some clearer guidance for delivery drivers on how to handle the situation. They might tell you that actually although the written rule is against it, in reality it's expected that people will accept tips. Or they might use it as an opportunity to issue clear guidance that says "no tips whatsoever and here are some tips on how to politely refuse" - which should make things clearer for your colleagues as well as for you. Possibly it will even lead to a change in policy whereby tips are allowed but have to be donated to charity or pooled for the end of year party or something. 

pff

Wow, some really over the top responses here. How is tipping a delivery driver an odd quid here or there contributing to bribery or corruption? It's just a way of saying thanks to someone who's doing a hard job that's often not paid well. It's not like it's an ethical violation or going to compromise how this person does their job.

I always tip the person who delivers my take-away food, and tip the postman at Christmas, so why is this any different if generous people who have the extra cash want to tip?

Take the money. Life is hard enough, especially for people in low paid jobs. And for all the people saying you're going to lose your job? Get a grip. Who is appreciating their delivery driver enough to tip and then phoning in a complaint that the driver took a tip? How else would the company know you'd taken one?

Brynsam

mecoprop said:

1. Your terms of employment explicitly forbid it, so why are you asking anyone else? How simple can this be?

2,. I am utterly disgusted by the level of dishonesty being condoned and encouraged by some answers here.

3. As can so clearly be seen in this thread, tipping encourages greed and dishonesty - it is corruption.

4. Try tipping a policeman or a judge and you will go to jail.  ALL tipping is a form of bribery and corruption and it should all be made illegal without exception.

1. Because views vary - not everyone is as inflexible as you
2. Dear me, you'll have a very hard life if you over-react to everything to this extent
3. No, it's a well established practice to reward good service
4. Rubbish. Dropping in a box of chocolates as a thank you to the policeman who returned my stolen cheque book was very well received by the whole police station!

steampowered

I would accept the tips.

Not because other drivers accept tips. Simply because there is no good reason not to.

Although there might be a line in the employer's handbook I doubt the employer actually cares. It certainly isn't gross misconduct.

Personally I've always given delivery drivers who are polite, most of them, a few extra quid or added a modest tip on deliveroo. Not much but something. I don't tip drivers who are rude or abrupt.

auradity

I was a take away delivery driver for many years. I couldn't have survived without tips. So, take the tips! You need them. They pay for the repairs on your car. I can guarantee delivery mileage your company is paying you isn't going to pay for the wear and tear on your car! Or, just think of yourself as a mobile waiter...
If you;re worried about Covid, ask the customer to put tips in your bag for you.

[Deleted User]

MSE_Kelvin said:

on the company intranet it says we're not allowed to accept them. 

MSE_Kelvin said:

While I know it's not strictly permitted, I could really use the extra money. 

I like how "not allowed" has gone on to be interpreted as "not strictly permitted". 

Perhaps "not strictly permitted" really means "mostly permitted", and "mostly permitted" actually means "compulsory"...

Tealblue

mecoprop said:

1. Your terms of employment explicitly forbid it, so why are you asking anyone else? How simple can this be?

2,. I am utterly disgusted by the level of dishonesty being condoned and encouraged by some answers here.

3. As can so clearly be seen in this thread, tipping encourages greed and dishonesty - it is corruption.

4. Try tipping a policeman or a judge and you will go to jail.  ALL tipping is a form of bribery and corruption and it should all be made illegal without exception.

Dear Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

Please do not try to constrain my civil liberties. If I wish to tip, it is my choice and I'll do so. Tipping a policeman isn't an offence; you are confusing tipping and bribery - the latter certainly is an offence.

There is nothing dishonest about accepting a tip simply because it is against your terms and conditions of employment. It is a breach of your employment contract. You (and a number of other posters on this thread) are obviously not aware of how one major employer responded when asked about their 'no tipping' policy. The response was very clear: if a customer chooses to do so, the customer is always right, and on that basis they would have no grounds for reprimanding a driver. 

Think it through: what sort of message would it send customers if an employer tried to drag them into a disciplinary process against a driver who accepted a tip? 

The world would be a happier place if more people could distinguish between minor infringements and 'gross misconduct', as one earlier poster thought accepting tips would be!

Archergirl

I gave a couple of drivers a cold can of drink when it was really hot and they were much appreciated 

Mouseboy007

Why not accept the tips, so as to show gratitude to the customer, informing them that company policy says you're not allowed, but you intend to speak with your manager. Then do just that - tell your manager a customer was insistent and it was clear they would be disenfranchised and offended but you're aware of company policy and just want to do the right thing.
Unless your manager is an ex traffic warden jobsworth, they'll likely tell you to keep the tip and thank you for your honesty. You could even push it a little further and try and get them to confirm in an e-mail that it's acceptable under the circumstances and that way you have evidence in future if you're ever reprimanded.

Alternatively, ask your customer to contact your head office and ask them that they be allowed to tip you next time