# tipping a hotel maid
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-a-hotel-maid/322498
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 20, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-a-hotel-maid/322498 "2005-09-20T04:44:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-a-hotel-maid/322498/41 "2005-09-23T21:28:44Z")
> [@Phèdre nó Delaunay](#):
>
> Isn’t 7-3 a normal 8 hour shift? Unless you meant 3 a.m., which would be horriendous!
Yeah, but they weren’t supposed to be working a full-time shift. They were just supposed to work until the rooms were cleaned. Most days, it meant that a crew of five were there for about four or five hours, but when we were busy, or full, or the rooms were particularly filthy, they would be there much longer. One memorable day, they were there until six PM.
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### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-a-hotel-maid/322498/42 "2005-09-23T21:32:02Z")
> [@byomtoob](#):
>
> I can’t believe what I’m reading here – why does anyone think a hotel is different than a restaurant?
>
> An appropriate tip for the maid is 20% of the total tab – minimum!
20%! So if I am staying in a $300 a night room I should tip $60??
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-a-hotel-maid/322498/43 "2005-09-23T21:32:26Z")
> [@AskNott](#):
>
> A good friend will help you move. A great friend will help you move a body.
A good friend will help you move.
A great friend will ehlp you move a body.
A best friend will sit next to you in a jail cell saying, " That was fucking awesome."
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### Author:  [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-a-hotel-maid/322498/44 "2005-09-23T22:26:28Z")
> [@saoirse](#):
>
> A waiter is just doing his job when he brings you your food. A bartender as well. Aside from waiters and waitresses, none of the people you normally tip make sub-minimum wage. Bellhops certainly don’t, even though there has never beeen a suitcase as heavy as a full linen cart.
> If you can’t think of any other reason, how about, **"This person has access to the place where I sleep**."
You’re kidding, yeah? If not, I’m not going to tip someone to stop them from being a jerk. That is. . . silly. I’ll tip because someone went above and beyond.
I have no problem tipping waiters (15% usually, but it varies based on service) because they get paid less than minimum wage (which is a point that has been done to death on this board, so let us not go there). Maids are making minimum wage (IE: as much as I am when I do my job) and, unless they do something extra, they do not deserve a tip. I do taxes and my boss pays me minimum wage. I do a great job, if I may say so myself. No one has ever offered me a tip. Should I be tipped because I do a lot of work for not much pay?
Everyone is welcome to be as generous as they want, but I do not see why or how this should be considered mandatory.
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