Continuing the train of vital matters discussed in this forum, I was wondering if people leave a gift for the postman? And if so, what do you give?
we have a different postman(person) every week so no.
“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”
https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22349/html/cover_025.htm
I live in a condo and lately have been seeing the number of packages the postman has had to deliver to each building unit. Lets just say he is getting quite a workout.
We ship and receive a good number of packages. Mail carrier leaves them on the bench outside our front door (requires walking down and then back up the driveway–not huge but takes a minute or two a couple of days per week). We usually give him a $20 Wawa (awesome local convenience store) gift card. USPS does have a formal gift limit, but I don’t recall what it is.
You can give a gift card up to $20. We know our letter carrier by name and we get a lot of packages so I always give a gift card - Wawa all the way @LuckyCharms913 !!
I think the best gift would be a letter of appreciation that can be put in the employee’s personnel file.
sorry, raclut, but my postal carrying brother has been working 80 hour weeks during the this holiday, due to chronic staffing shortages. Who is going to read that letter?? He’d rather have something he can enjoy after the holidays…
We give a gift card with a note.
Same with Garbage collection - although that is usually cash.
I thought a letter would help with getting a raise or a promotion.
Postal worker’s labor union (and contract) have more to do with getting a raise or promotion than any letter…
One year I gave a $20 gift certificate and a box of dog biscuits as the carrier was always leaving biscuits for our dog.
The dog loved the mailman and could never understand why UPS packages didn’t come with biscuits. The dog was sad when that carrier retired.
A co-worker had a mailman husband. He loved all the gifts he got (many years ago). He was the extra mailman on every route, so he had 5 different ones but knew all the people on them.
I used to, but we had the same one for many years, then another same one for many more years. And they were extremely thorough and went the extra mile (for instance when I was unable to walk after an accident, the carrier left the mail between the front doors so I didn’t have to go out to get it). Our newer one (ones?) mixes up our mail with everyone else’s on the street, walks across flowers, and in general doesn’t take the job as seriously. I don’t anymore.
OTOH, our newspaper deliver person is great, so I do (also I figure that person is making a lot less money and really needs it.)
My postal delivery is crap. Always has been. If I was going to tip anyone it would be the helpful and pleasant folks behind the counter at the local PO not the delivery guy who misdirects my neighbors’ mail to my mailbox, and vice versa. I don’t, however, buy into the whole tipping economy for those making a living wage. Additionally, although they work longer hours during the holidays, they are getting overtime pay.
Exactly, doschicos. They get OT pay and great benefits (especially the health insurance). I don’t see what they do as being so extraordinary, considering. No tips from me.
I do, a bottle of a French red just under $20. I also give the same bottle to sanitary workers, one to each.
My son is a postal carrier, temporary and hoping to be permanent soon. He actually works pretty hard and is doing long days and long hours right now. This is his second holiday season with USPS. Last year, he was pretty surprised and happy just to get any type of gift, though his favorite was the Cuban cigar one guy on his route got him. He has it on display in his room because he’s not a smoker. He also got a Macy’s gift card, which I bought from him, homemade pastries and some cash. Technically, they are not really supposed to get cash.
The benefits are pretty good, at least once you get to be permanent. As a temporary worker, he isn’t eligible for retirement benefits or the best level of health insurance, but what he does get is nice and a lot better for me than keeping him on COBRA. The work, at least for the outside carriers, can be tough. My son has already had a comp claim from slipping on ice and was nipped by a dog, but he didn’t file a claim. He now carries doggie treats along with his USPS issued mace.
My son and his co-workers appreciate any gifts they get.
A nonreligious season’s greetings card accompanies my gift of $25 each to the mail carrier, NY Times delivery person, and sanitation workers. Biweekly housecleaner gets equivalent of one session’s extra pay. Daily dogsitter gets toys for her children (worth about $50). No idea if these are typical or not. Just what I have been giving the past few years.
And your mail carrier shouldn’t be accepting your $25…per raclut’s post with link: "“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”