Do you have a tip jar on your desk?

Have you ever noticed when you go to ice cream stores, coffee shops or limited service restaurants you will find a tip jar at the cash register? I often wonder why I should tip the ice cream server (or barista or person taking orders and working the cash register) when that is what they are paid to do. Unlike a waiter or a waitress who has to anticipate the differing needs of each of their tables and juggle multiple tasks, they are hired to do one thing – serve ice cream/coffee. They can get more or less creative with their serving technique, but ultimately, they are hired to provide one service.

I realize the answer to my question is obvious. Tip jars are present because they don’t get paid much to serve ice cream and they are providing a service, but this made me think about having a tip jar in my office. As a professional level employee what would happen if I starting asking for tips? Like a waiter, I wasn’t hired to do just one thing, I was expected to juggle multiple tasks and work with multiple people. (Note: In this case I am defining “professional level employee” as anyone who works in or out of an office for a business and doesn’t traditionally earn tips.)

I have worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors and I can say that none of my managers would have appreciated me putting a tip jar on my desk. Over time I had to discover that my “tips” came in the form of verbal recognition of a job well done, positive marks on a performance review, or even raises and bonuses.

I realize that most employees, who work in a business where a tip jar (or the opportunity to earn a tip) is present, work very hard to impress their customers and earn tips. Do professional level employees do the same? Do you do the same?

If you don’t, you should. Being able to work well with other departments, provide top notch service to internal and external customers, juggle multiple projects, and consistently complete tasks accurately and on time should earn recognition in the workplace. The recognition may not be as immediate as a quarter going into the jar, but it should not go unnoticed. Instead of adding up the dollars at the end of the day, add up the “at-a-boys” from your supervisor, the positive comments on your performance review, and the new projects you’re being entrusted to lead. If at the end of the week/month/evaluation period you notice that your “tips” aren’t great, your work probably isn’t great either.

Next time you find yourself being complacent or providing mediocre service, think about the employee serving ice cream or coffee. Will they grow and profit from mediocre or poor service? Probably not and neither will you.