Hi mom's. So we recently moved to a new area, and along with it joined a new gym(Work Out World). The other day a mom was picking up her child and put a few dollars in the tip box- which I never even noticed before. This is new to me. The gym I belonged to before did not have a tip box. And I used to take my son there 3-4 days a week. This gym, I usually only take him 1 time a week because he is in school now. Am I supposed to tip them? Its supposed to be a free service, well that I pay $5 more a month for my membership. And I can watch my son while he's in there on the tv's. He is very shy and doesn't talk to any of the women. He plays by himself, so its not like they are doing much. But I don't want to be the "cheap mom" that doesn't tip. I don't know. Have you heard of this, or tip your gym daycare?
OK thanks ladies. I'll throw in a few $ here and there. Appreciate the input.
WHAT?!?!! A tip jar at a gym daycare? Seriously?! I think I would be offended if I saw one. There are too many places nowadays that have a tip jar out. If someone wants to slip them an extra dollar or two, fine, but having a tip jar out seems tacky to me. JMHO. Who's next to have one? Flight attendants? McDonald's counter? Dry cleaners? Coffee shop? (Oh...wait....nevermind! lol)
Everyone wants a peice of the pie. If I had to pay monthly babysitting dues and a tip I would probably just find a babysitter!
All through high school I worked in a gym daycare and we did have a tip jar set up. I never thought anything about the parents that didn't tip as most of them didn't but I sure did appreciate the ones that did. I was paid minimum wage with no benefits. At the end of the night the tip money I received would pay for my dinner.
As a free service provided by the gym tipping isn't necessary and you won't be considered the "Cheap M." for not tipping but if you occasionally have a couple of dollars to spare I'm sure they'd appreciate it!
I worked at a gym daycare once and never got a tip. It was never expected and never thought of. When I worked there I got to bring my son and I got a free gym membership on top of my hourly wage.
Weird? I don't know how places do things now a days..but 20 years a go I worked in and then was an asst manager of a Bally's Child Center. Free with the membership (with a 2 hour time limit per day). No tip jar. They make an hourly pay, I assume, that they agreed to (no one ever makes what they "want" for a job). Its not the same scale states set for based on standard tipping potential to add to it (again, I am assuming).
But, as a child care professional, I will take real offense to your "He plays by himself, so its not like they are doing much" statement. If he chokes..has a seizure, or some simple mishap befalls him, who is responsible for his immediate safety? Can you do that thru the TV screen? This is similar to the statements I see and hear from parents who say a babysitter or childcare should not be paid the same, etc while children are asleep, or because they are "older" and don't really "need care". OK, my rant is done now.
Personally, I would not be likely to tip, unless it was the holidays, etc. Who is reporting that income? I am a bit cranky about such things..altho I am a great tipper for standard tipping services!!!
Free service...I would tip.
If it is a complimentary service a few bucks here and there to tip probably would go along way and says a lot to the volunteer but if you pay any type of babysitting fee like the one M. below I sure wouldn't be tipping.
Wow, never heard of that at a gym before! At my gym (La Fitness) and the gym I'm about to join (24 hour fitness) we have to pay a "monthly" fee to bring our child... 10.00 per month... If your son doesnt go often and you don't want to feel cheap, I would just give 1.00 per visit... There's probably TONS of parents that don't give anything and there kids go everyday~ Very odd, never heard of gyms being set up that way~
