MsElui

ive been using a babysitting service at my local hairdressers for a while now but it suddenly struck me that maybe I should be tipping the girl - what do you all think?

The deal is - the mum goes in to the hairdressers and gets her hair done (paying and tipping the hairdresser as normal). On 2 specific afternoons a week you can leave your kids in the care of another employee whilst your having your hair done - and they let them play with a few toys, colour in, watch DVD's etc, You do have to tell them when booking the hair cut that you want to use the babysitting (so they dont get too many kids) but it doesnt cost anything to use. Have I been rude here or not!

Sally Redux

I don't know, but they'd probably have a cup prominently displayed with 'TIPS' written on it and/or smile a tremendous amount and say 'Have a nice day' if they expected a tip.

MsElui

no cup - no over smiling that i remember.

Kaffy Mintcake

Could you ask your hairdresser what people usually do?

joto

I probably would tip the salon babysitter. If you had your child in day care or had a baby sitter come to the house you would pay them, wouldn't you? Probably $5-$10 depending how long the child was with them.

Xebedee

Let your kids give the money to the sitter then gauge the sitter's reaction from that.

-or-

Pay the sitter "in kind' with a wal-mart card or bottle of gin, or something.

ian-mstm

Not rude, no. However, they are providing a service that they are not obligated to provide, and you are using it... I think tipping would be appropriate - whatever you'd otherwise pay a sitter for the time involved.

Ian

Rete

I'm with Ian on this. Since you have used the service a few times, the next time you are there, discreetly palm her a few dollars with a smile and a thank you.

Englishtart

TBH I'm not sure I would think about tipping the baby sitter either, to me it would be a service they provide to get more Moms in 4 a haircut etc, they are doing it to make more money on the hairdressing side, so I would expect that the tip you give your hairdresser would cover that? I would probably tip a little more to your hairdresser though.

tonrob

I only tip people if they bring me beer.

S Folinsky

I agree with both you and Ian. My first thought is that it is never rude to fail to leave a tip -- but it is appreciated.

S Folinsky

I know that in many restaurants that the wait-people will share tips with the other staff.

Leyther

It as got to be a poured pint though. I hate tipping a buck to someone who only takes the cap off a bottle and places it in front of me (sat at the bar)-- I could sit at home and take the caps off my own bottles for free

Englishtart

Yeah, I was thinking that this is what happens with the one on baby sitting duty.

PepsiChic

This is true. I work as a waitress, we give the food runner (person that runs food out to the tables) some of our tips, normally $3-$5 from each waitress/waiter.

And then the busser (person who clears whats left on the table and wipes the tables) gets a % of what we got from credit card tips automatically taken from our total at the end of the night.

I think its fair and I like the system.

As for the topic in hand, yes i would tip, tipping is not a requirment, but it is appreciated!