Would it be appropriate to tip my cashier at the grocery store?

[fleur-de-lisa]

I live in New Orleans and I know they probably make minimum wage and probably don’t have health insurance. Yet there they are, on the front lines, working every day with no way to protect themselves.

I’m thinking about taking $50 or so cash back the next time I go to the store and just handing it right back to the cashier.

I make a point to thank them every time I go to the store, but I bet they would really aporeciate the cash. I wonder if this is against any company rules.

[durablend]

1. Pretty sure that's not permitted

[enough]

2. Can't hurt to try. NT

[zackymilly]

3. Not appropriate. Now send me that 50 for my counseling. n/t

[fleur-de-lisa]

4. . . .

[Mersky]

5. I'm a tipper

And like this idea. Maybe should call the store and talk to someone in management about how to do this. Clerks and checkers generally shouldn’t handle their own money when they’re at the till.

Maybe a gift card would do? I have a few from Christmas - aren’t redeemable at my grocery store. As a bonus, they’re easier to sanitize.

[fleur-de-lisa]

6. Great idea! Thanks.

[Mersky]

10. Yw

Is a good and kind idea - I have one clerk in mind. She was happy for the overtime pay, but I could see the flash of worry in her eyes. I worked in retail years ago, and the worst I had to deal with was maniacal shoppers with expired coupons.

Really must call the store first - don’t want to get them in trouble!

In my mind, I think a ten dollar card and plain thank you for being there within the store’s policy will be good enough.

(but with elbows)

[Hekate]

7. Keep being extra polite. Be aware that extra cash in their pocket could be mistaken for theft ...

...from the cash register.

I know it was a lifetime ago, but I worked my way thru college as a cashier, and the mere appearance of wrongdoing could lead to instant dismissal.

If you want to give something of monetary value, perhaps a gift card/debit card would do.

[fleur-de-lisa]

9. That's what worries me.

[melm00se]

8. Don't ask

don't advertise you did it
just do it

[no_hypocrisy]

11. I'm a cashier at a grocery (and on my break)

I so appreciate your desire to show appreciation/gratitude -- but just thanking us is plenty.

I now regularly ring up 10 bags. Some customers have tried to get me fired for sport. I wear latex gloves that I have to change every time I touch money. I take my temperature four times a day.

Your thanking me is enough.

[Mersky]

13. Thank you for being there

I’m the person in line that shames other customers for being unmitigated jerks to checkers and clerks. Have been a sales associate, etc. and know what it’s like.

Keep up the good work. You are appreciated, even if you can’t tell by that one guy or gal who engages in dumb power plays at the register.

[roamer65]

14. Yeah. Paper money is dangerous for you folks.

That’s why I’m doing it all by credit card and coin now.

Thank you for all you are doing!

[Totally Tunsie]

12. Remember that most, if not all, stores have cameras trained on their registers.

A cashier slipping cash - or anything else - into their pocket while standing at the register won't be well tolerated by store management. It could easily be grounds for termination, no matter what the reason.

While some don't understand the concept of stocking up on toilet paper, I find the idea of buying gift cards at this time to be a really poor idea. At times like this, ANY business can suddenly close its doors, leaving all those gift cards rendered worthless. Unless you're prepared to get stuck with them and/or don't care if you're giving a gift that might soon be unusable, don't buy gift cards!

[Mersky]

15. Can't control for everything

Calling ahead about how to do this appropriately is key. If it isn’t possible, note the clerk’s name and send in a compliment about their service in the customer feedback system (online, ideally - not the card drop box).

Otherwise, I’m not gonna worry about the fungible future of any given gift card. I already have some that I got as gifts (that I sometimes regift - shhhh, don’t tell my aunt that I don’t go to Starbucks, etc).

[Ms. Toad]

16. My daughter got a tip from her customer at EarthFare

(Ironically, just before they went bankrupt.)

The customer went to management with a check to be distributed to all employees as a tip. The management gave each employee a $50 bill, courtesy of the customer.

I don't know a lot more detail (like whether it had to be equally distributed, either per his preference or the store's), but it is possible. Check with the store management, they may be able to guide you.