I AM FROM THE U.S. & BELIEVE IN TIPPING. FOR OUR LONG TERM SITTER WE GAVE HIM $500. & A THANK YOU CARD AFTER THE SIT. WE ARE GREATFUL THAT HE TOOK IT & DIDN’T REFUSE IT AS WE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT WE HAD DONE WRONG BY TIPPING HIM. HE WILL BE COMING AGAIN (ARRANGED BEFORE GIVING HIM THE TIP) NEXT YEAR. HE THANKED US IN PERSON & SEEMED TRUELY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIP.
IS THIS AN ENGLISH THING OF NOT ACCEPTING TIPS?emphasised text
Tipping culture differs all around the world . In the UK, tipping has always been really prevalent in hairdressers, restaurants, and for taxi drivers. For other services tipping is far less frequent. Most other trades/services would not expect a tip, nor would they be offended if they were not given a tip. However, If a tip was offered many would thank you and accept it.
I have a Japanese friend who moved to the UK and got a job as a waiter. He was surprised when first given a tip as in Japan It’s considered rude to tip, and almost all workers there will politely refuse it.
$500 is a very generous tip! - I will be looking out for your listing
You are correct that tipping culture is very different across the world and Colin has already outlined the UK in this regard. However in terms of THS as a sitter from the UK I would be embarrassed to accept any kind of tip as for me this implies a service relationship and sets a tone of inequality. I prefer that the relationship is seen as entirely reciprocal - house/pet care in exchange for accommodation. I am not saying a small gift would be unappreciated and in fact we, as sitters, often leave a thank you for the owners such as a framed photo of their pet taken during the sit. However for me cash is a ‘no-no’ and I would feel very awkward in this situation.
As soon as money comes into the sit in the form of a “tip”, it changes the whole dynamic of THS mutual exchange to an employment style relationship. NO THANKS!
I’m English, we tip in restaurants, or places that offer table service usually. For other services, we may round up a total to the nearest note, but it just depends.
We see THS as a good-natured/kind/mutual benefit type of thing. It’s already a win-win for both parties. But go ahead and tip, if you’d like to tip.
Your past sitter would be grateful for your tip, and you were obviously grateful for them taking care of your pet/s, but also, as sitters we’re just naturally grateful to experience life as a local somewhere different, along with the company of pets.
When we first started house sitting (in the US), we mostly did it for people we knew during hurricane season when we weren’t sailing. It was just like THS, a trade for accommodations. We never asked for money and left it up to the individual pet parents as to whether they paid us anything. Usually those with pets that were more difficult to take care of (miltiple big dogs that required long walks) paid us (whatever they felt it was worth). It wasnt necessary, but appreciated. We would say no sometimes, but they insisted. Once a woman with a super easy dog and a short sit gave us money, we gave half of it back.
I think tipping shows your appreciation and that you understand how much work your sitter puts into keeping your pet safe, happy, and healthy. I think one refusal is appropriate and then the sitter should gracefully take it. I might donate the money to a pet rescue or take the pet parents out to dinner on the next sit.
I agree with your comment regarding implications of a service relationship and tone of inequity. I have not seen any posts with sitters asking about tipping the pet parent for providing a comfortable accommodation.
I feel that tipping alter the part of mutual exchange between equal partners. You have a good point. Would then a sitter give the host a tip because it was a very easy sit in a great and well equipped home?
We have occasionally received a cash gift to spend on something like a meal out during our stay (we mostly do long sits) . This were sits where we didn’t have a meal with the host at handover as it was arranged that we would arrive after they had already left.
We weren’t offended and we didn’t view it as a “tip” , we viewed it as a thoughtful gift like the other gifts we have received on sits (wine, cake, chocolates, cookies, flowers , fresh veg from the garden, rib- eye steaks from the local butcher )
I don’t see much difference between accepting and enjoying a meal cooked by the host or being taken to a restaurant by the host or a host leaving cash or a giftcard for a meal at a restaurant during the stay
