The holiday season is traditionally a time to thank those who provide us with services throughout the year. Determining who to tip can be confusing – each of us has a different idea about what constitutes good service and how it should be recognized.

Staffing shortages continue to impact the service industry, so you may consider increasing gratuity amounts to reward those people who have assisted you this year.

Keep in mind that gratuity amounts are influenced by a number of factors, including:

• The quality, length, and frequency of service
• Your relationship to the service provider
• Where you live (amounts are usually higher in large cities)
• The type of facility (deluxe vs. moderate)

Mail carriers may not accept cash, checks, gift cards or any form of currency. They may accept small gifts (no more than $20 in value), or snacks, beverages or perishables. Perishable items worth more than $20 (large fruit baskets or cookie tins) should be shared with the entire branch, per USPS rules.

While there are no hard and fast rules regarding what is an appropriate gratuity, we hope you will find these guidelines helpful.

Let common sense, specific circumstances, and holiday spirit be your guide. The gratuity amounts in this chart are merely guidelines, not rules. What to give is always an individual decision.

Happy holidays!