Originally Posted by GoingAway
No way ... if I want to thank a member of my support staff, I'll get them a gift or a gift card to say thank you that has a personal touch, e.g. a store I know they frequent or based on a hobby they are into. It could be based on the type of work you do versus my work environment, but I would not appreciate seeing a tip jar on anyone's desk in my office.
To each his own. I see no harm in doing both. The tip jar is there more as a symbol than anything else (it doesn't contain real money, BTW).
Before becoming an attorney, I promised myself I would not be one of those a-hole attorneys who thinks that they are "better" than the people who assist them with the practice of law.
When my secretary has to stay late to help with a filing or get a motion out, I realize that she has a life and family outside of the office just as I do. I realize that she gets overtime but what's worth more, two hours of overtime or two hours of time with your 5-year old child?
So, I don't mind putting a $5 or $10 or more in the tip jar at that moment just to say "Hey, I really appreciate you sticking with me and assisting me with this." You would be surprised how far an on-the-fly thank you goes. After the jar has accumulated so much, then we (myself and her other assignments) will get her a gift certificate or a spa day, etc. It doesn't cost us anything in the grand scheme of things and the results are great.
Granted, my way is rather unusual but I like to show people I appreciate them every time they do something out of the ordinary. It's very easy to take people for granted otherwise.