One more reason to dis-like Wal-mart

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

My brother's first job in high school was as a grocery bagger, and the store he worked for did not allow the baggers to accept tips (they not only bagged the groceries, but they took them out to the car for you as well).

Yeah that's normal for the stores that pay their baggers. I've always wondered why. I've worked in different retail places and if you can't accept tips, there's always some nice old guy who wants you to have a few bucks for (free!) gift wrapping his purchases. I know stores don't want their employees to be hustling the customers for tips, but sometimes customers don't like to hear "No" either.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yeah that's normal for the stores that pay their baggers. I've always wondered why. I've worked in different retail places and if you can't accept tips, there's always some nice old guy who wants you to have a few bucks for (free!) gift wrapping his purchases. I know stores don't want their employees to be hustling the customers for tips, but sometimes customers don't like to hear "No" either.

Just a thought, but maybe it is a tax issue. Theoretically, tips are considered wages, and those wages would have to be declared on taxes. And since you are an employee of the store, and not an independent contractor, the store would have to track your tips and then report them as part of your wages. I could see that as a huge hassle.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Just a thought, but maybe it is a tax issue. Theoretically, tips are considered wages, and those wages would have to be declared on taxes. And since you are an employee of the store, and not an independent contractor, the store would have to track your tips and then report them as part of your wages. I could see that as a huge hassle.

Actually, it is a union issue. Grocery baggers are part of a union, believe it or not, and per union rules, they can not accept tips.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Actually, it is a union issue. Grocery baggers are part of a union, believe it or not, and per union rules, they can not accept tips.

What about for the non-union workers whether at Quiznos or department stores, or even non-union grocery stores? (Although around here the non-union ones are the ones that don't have baggers and let community groups back for tips)

[alum]

I am seeing a whole different commissary bagger in the last few years. When I started shopping there several decades ago, the baggers were mostly hs-aged dependent kids and the foreign-born junior enlisted wives. Now there are all sorts of people who bag at the commissaries that seem (we don't get into a conversation about this) as if there is no connection to the military whatsoever.

This may be explained by the area in which we live. Like most major cities, greater DC still has low unemployment and an overall educated population. Our DC area discount stores (WalMart, Target...) seem to have mostly immigrants as their employees whereas the same stores in the more rural areas (ie Shenandoahs) have more long-term locals (who seem to be US-born: again, I don't ask).