Dear Ms. Demeanor: Tipping the amenity staff at the holidays

By Jamie Lauren Sutton | December 7, 2011 - 10:45AM

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

I live in a building with an outside staff that manages the gym, party room, pool, screening rooms and other amenities. Is there an expectation that the guy who swipes your card in the gym or the lifeguard gets tipped? If so, what is expected?

Sincerely,

Amy Amenity

Dear Amy Amenity,

In this town, there is no such thing as a free screening room. Those swanky amenities don't just keep your maintenance sky high--they also mean you'll have to reach deeper in to your pockets during Tipping Season.

Keep familiar faces friendly with $10.00 gift certificates to Starbucks/Barnes and Noble/the movies. If you do not use the pool or party room, you are not obligated to tip the people who work there (but I would be happy to go in your stead and tip them after a nice long swim).

Happy Tipping,

Ms. Demeanor

Ms. Demeanor is channeled by a longtime Manhattan vertical dweller and real-estate voyeur who writes under the pen name Jamie Lauren Sutton. She is here to commiserate, calm and correct. Please email your quandaries to [email protected] and put "Dear Ms. Demeanor" in the subject line.

See all of Ms. Demeanor's advice here.

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