Do you give your cleaning lady a holiday gift?

amother

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 9:28 pm

It's that time of the year. Do you give your cleaning lady a holiday gift? If it's money -- how much do you give, and what's the ratio to the amount of hours she works?

Money is a bit tight right now, but I don't want to be the only frum person she works for who doesn't give her an adequate gift.

mommy3b2c

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 9:30 pm

I give her $500 I think. She usually makes about $420 to $480 a week . I think some years I’ve given even more .

amother

Offwhite

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 9:31 pm

Cash in a card
If she comes a day then pay that amount again
If she comes a full week then that amount
Whatever you pay her weekly give her double that amount

amother

DarkPurple

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 9:37 pm

amother Offwhite wrote:

Cash in a card
If she comes a day then pay that amount again
If she comes a full week then that amount
Whatever you pay her weekly give her double that amount

I don’t get that kind of gift from my employers!

amother

Mauve

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 9:44 pm

Where I live noone gives such amounts of $$!
I dont even get that from my employers!

Where are these numbers coming from and why so much?!

Good Friend

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:03 pm

Where I live it's a legal requirement (South America) to give a month's salary as a holiday bonus in December.

imasinger

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:04 pm

Each field is different.

AIUI, it's customary to give a large holiday bonus to anyone who does work that's a personal service. Cleaners, private childcare (nanny), anything like that.

We do an extra week's pay or more to our cleaner as a bonus. Usually once in the winter, and once around Pesach.

amother

Babypink

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:06 pm

amother OP wrote:

Yes I give. $25.

happyone

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:07 pm

Absolutely. Some years I gift something I know she would appreciate, some years I give a few hundred dollars.

amother

Babypink

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:07 pm

amother Mauve wrote:

Where I live noone gives such amounts of $$!
I dont even get that from my employers!

Where are these numbers coming from and why so much?!

Ppl are nuts

Amarante

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:15 pm

In the USA it is customary to give your domestic help an amount equivalent to one week's salary. That would be the base amount and I do know people who have had housekeepers or nannies for many years and give more - and they also give vacation pay as well. If you use her only one day a week, then it would be what you pay her for that day.

That is what the customary amount is just like it is customary to give a waiter between 15% and 20% of the bill and to tip your hair stylist, manicurist, facialist 20%

amother

DarkPurple

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:29 pm

Honestly I don’t feel the need to gift her bec every week I pay her for 8 hours when she’s there for 7. Hope she appreciates that though (she wanted 8 hours of work but when she works fast I just tell her to go home instead of finding more tasks so every week it’s about 6.5 or 7 hours of work but 8 hours of pay)

amother

Slategray

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:32 pm

Our rav told us we cannot give holiday gift. It’s acknowledging something that is against our Torah.
Instead, he said, give a New Years gift and state it explicitly.
I give $100, a lot for me.

amother

Leaf

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 10:34 pm

amother Babypink wrote:

Ppl are nuts

Not really. This is customary in their culture. Nobody is obligating you to tip, but don't be surprised if these people won't show you the loyalty you think they should.

amother

Lemonlime

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 11:03 pm

amother Slategray wrote:

Our rav told us we cannot give holiday gift. It’s acknowledging something that is against our Torah.
Instead, he said, give a New Years gift and state it explicitly.
I give $100, a lot for me.

Our Rav said it’s fine.

I really don’t understand how giving her a gift acknowledges the birth of J. This time of year has just become. Gift giving season

MiracleMama

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 11:04 pm

amother Babypink wrote:

Ppl are nuts

I'm not nuts.

The fact is that there are more housekeeping jobs than there are housekeepers around here. When you find someone decent and you want to keep them, you pay them well. That includes a nice holiday gift and around here a week's salary is pretty much expected.

amother

Midnight

Thu, Dec 15 2022, 11:06 pm

Amarante wrote:

This is just not true across the board. I lived OOT for a few years and this was done. Where I live now I know lots of people and more than one agency (not just for my personal use) and more than 100$ is unheard of 250$ if full time.