Should i tip gas station attendant

It may be an uncomfortable call, but not as uncomfortable as some poor schmendrick sitting in front of overpriced gnocchi, slowly realizing that he crashed a family party as he listens to one more incomprehensible private joke or anecdote about sweet old Nana MacGuffin. Is one supposed to tip the attendant at full-service gas stations? Tipping is customary only if there are both full-serve and self-serve options at the station and the fuel is priced the same at both.

If an attendant goes above and beyond in some way, such as checking the oil or helping you with directions, tipping a couple of dollars is a decent thing to do. The same applies when the weather is brutally cold, as much as Miss Conduct hates to think about that possibility during this lovely and hard-earned summer.

Send your questions to Miss Conduct at missconduct globe. Taking an Uber or Lyft instead? Yes, it IS considered a necessary courtesy to tip certain hotel employees, especially the person cleaning up after your mess. Leave the money in an envelope with a "Thank You" on it, so they know the money is for them, the group suggests. Do you tip the gas station attendant? It's a common question for those visiting New Jersey, the last state in the U. There is no tipping required at the gas pump, according to immihelp.

But many New Jersey residents have no problem with kicking in a buck or three to a well-meaning worker, according to this Reddit thread :. Who is a "tipped employee? Department of Labor definition:.

However, some labor advocates and elected officials have recently argued that New Jersey should get rid of tipped workers altogether. Their reasoning? Tipping leaves employees vulnerable to sexual harassment, abuse and wage violations.

Last month, Assembly Majority Conference Leader Shavonda Sumter Bergen and Passaic Counties announced that she's amending a bill introduced earlier this year, A , so that it raises the tipped minimum wage until it's completely eliminated.

Anecdotally, in all the times I've been in Oregon and New Jersey, I have never seen or heard of anyone tipping the attendant simply for pumping gas, except to leave them the change when paying cash I have not used a full-serve pump anywhere else in the US or Canada in over 20 years, and cannot even think of where to find one.

Fifty years ago, a good attendant might have checked your oil and coolant levels, wiped the windshield, and checked your tire pressure in addition to filling the tank. An increase in electronic sensors and decrease in drivers' patience over the years means such attention is rare today.

In most places, "full serve" is not really full service, and simply the term used to indicate that an attendant is working the pump. With that noted, except where banned by local ordinance, attended stations charge a higher price, which is understood to cover the wages of the attendant for the basic work of filling the tank and collecting payment. Moreover, unlike a food server or barber, or even barista, there is very little social interaction with the attendant, and tipping usually accompanies more intimate or longer-term interactions.

As an etiquette columnist wrote for a Boston Globe "Miss Conduct" column :. Tipping is customary only if there are both full-serve and self-serve options at the station and the fuel is priced the same at both. This would exclude areas where self-serve is banned altogether including the entire states of New Jersey and Oregon , which is borne out by anecdote— the only people who tip in New Jersey are out-of-towners.

As etiquette authorities will note, tipping someone working in a service job is always appreciated, and never impolite. Pumping gas is a monotonous, fume-infused job which is at best unpleasant, so I would give some consideration particularly when the weather is hot, cold, or wet.

I am a gas attendant, in Maine, winters are rough facing negative temps, howling winds and knee deep snow. No matter what the condition I am always there to pump your gas with a smile! We don't expect tips, but extremely appreciate it if you do! But most of all we appreciate a sincere "Thank You" and try not to run over my foot, smash me with your door, drive off, roll my hand up in the window, honk the horn when I'm under the hood, and rolling up the window while I'm having a conversation with you.

Remember we are all human. And I love talking about the weather, fishing, rippin on the sleds and football season, and anything else that comes up! We are not all heartless, scum bag, drop outs like we have been portrayed to be. All I'm trying to get at is a simple "Thanks" and a buck is much much appreciated! Most of those who work at a Gas Bar that offers full service do appreciate a tip. I work at a Gas Bar in Canada.