Postal Carriers In Montana Cannot Receive These Items As Gifts

The holiday seasons are a season of giving in Montana. It is a time for us to think about charities and to start thinking about giving to people that are in need. It is also time for us to start giving to the people that work hard and deserve a little holiday bonus. I am talking about tipping those people that deserve it.

Some Tipping Culture is Getting Out of Control

There has been a lot of written about tipping. I have stated in the past that I tip, but I think that tipping in general should go away, especially for a restaurants, and the food industry. I also think that the tipping culture has gotten out of control. Recently I purchased a gift for my wife from an online store. At the end of the transaction they asked if I wanted to add in a tip. For an online store for a gift. With all that being said, I do believe there are a few workers that deserve tips at least once a year.

Hard Working Montanans That Could Use a Tip

In my opinion sanitation engineers should be tipped. I also believe postal workers should be tipped. They are out there braving the elements, dodging cars, and doing a job that a lot people don't want to do. I appreciate the work and the effort that they put forth. I try to give them a little gift every year around the holidays.

If you are planning on leaving a tip for your postal worker, you need to know there are some rules they have regarding gifts and what they can and can't accept.

Carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period.

They can accept food or baked goods as gifts.

(1) Modest items of food and non-alcoholic refreshments, such as soft drinks, coffee and donuts, offered other than as part of a meal; (2) Greeting cards and items with little intrinsic value, such as plaques, certificates, and trophies, which are intended primarily for presentation.

If You Are Giving Food, Check With Them For Allergies

I like to bake cookies around the holidays and give them to family, friends and neighbors. I also like to give some to my postal worker every year. Keep in mind if you are going to be giving food items, make sure they don't have any kind of food allergies.

Happy Holidays to all the hard workers out there. If you haven't tipped them in the past, consider giving them a tip this year. I know a lot of them appreciate it and deserve it.