When I was growing up, my dad always instructed my siblings and me to tip the taxi drivers and delivery boys. Before Uber and Lyft, before credit card payments were accepted in car services, before Amazon and Instacart, we were taught to give a few extra dollars to the driver or delivery person in gratitude for their service. Even when we struggled financially in the ’90s, we still did our very best to take care of those who took care of us.
I understand that tipping has gotten out of control and that the constant demand for tips can feel classless. I also know that in Europe, where we spent two weeks back in August, tipping isn’t as common or expected. Several waiters told us, “Here it’s not like in America; we get a living wage.” Yet I still love the idea of voluntary tipping. It’s an act of kindness from my heart, a small way to share a little extra with someone who probably earns less than I do.
But it’s not tipping that I want to focus on. Rather, it’s the importance of paying employees properly. I don’t run a company with a large staff on payroll (though I do have a few employees at Chabad), but I hire many people throughout the year to do various jobs for our home, our hospitality center, our mikvah, our Chabad center, our outdoor events, and our Jewish cemetery. I do my best to pay everyone I hire fairly—and it shows. They’re “repeats,” returning time and again because they know we’ll take care of them.
In Bozeman, I often hear complaints like, “We can’t get good workers,” “Our employees don’t stick around long-term,” or “Rabbi, how do you get such good guys?” While it’s true that many young Americans seem to be losing the old-school work ethic of diligence and loyalty, there are still plenty who would gladly work if they were treated with decency, paid well, respected for the value they bring, and paid on time. Of course, when businesses hire full-time employees, the numbers have to make financial sense but going out of one’s way to make it a little sweeter for the employee goes a long way.
Need a sukkah built, a septic tank power-washed, a driveway plowed, a sushi event catered, a shul painted, a mikvah pool maintained, a porch built, a gutter cleaned, a trainer showing up at your convenience, or a kosher food truck unloaded? Recognize how blessed you are to have a team of people willing to do that work and pay them well so they’ll show up happily and get it done. Mike, James, Aaron, Ryan, Desiree, Harlan, Cade, Rod, and so many others are household names and are delighted when I text them to come over, because they know we see them and the value of their work in the best possible way.
Am I perfect? Probably not. Can I do better? For sure. But I try never to forget how blessed I am to have wonderful people willing to do the jobs I either can’t do or don’t want to do. The Torah instructs employers to be compassionate and respectful, and employees to be honest, loyal, and devoted. It’s a two-way street, with responsibilities on both sides.
I’m not an economist and have no authority to address major corporations, but in our own lives and in small business settings we can certainly do our part to treat those who work for us properly. And who knows? Maybe we’ll create a kinder world and, in the process, help solve the youth employment challenge.
