How Much to Tip the Doorman?

Tis the season for tipping and here in New York City, we, apartment dwellers, may be scratching our heads over what to tip the building staff.  I've decided to re-post last year's advice, with some updates. BrickUnderground's Teri Karush Rogers offers a thorough tipping guide here.

Here's an old post you may find helpful:

A recent money blunder of mine: How to determine bonuses for the nine building workers – doormen, porters, building manager, etc. – in my old building, where I moved out eight months ago and currently sublet. And what about my current building? There's a staff of about eight or so people here, but I've only been living here for four months. The previous renter here left in the spring and – I assume – didn't hand out any tips on her way out.

After much debate and reading this recent post in the New York Times real estate Q&A section I came up with two solutions.

For my old apartment, which I still own and sublet: My subletter started in Sept., so I am offering to pay 75% of the recommended bonus per employee, which ranges from $60 to $100. I dropped off the cards to my tenant with my portion. He just needs to add his dollars and we're good to go. I signed the cards with both our names. My renter thought this was a fair plan. This way, the staff still gets a full year's bonus and it comes from both old and new residents.

For my new apartment where I am renting from the owners (who haven't lived in the building for years), I decided to pay the bonuses as if I'd been living here all year. Maybe that wasn't technically necessary, but I see it as money well spent. Our building employees offer protection and privacy. They work very hard. When I was moving in this summer I remember them being extremely helpful – despite our board's strict 9 to 5 moving hours policy. Annual bonuses to them are like tips to service staff at restaurants. According to New York Magazine, "doormen add cachet, but they don't cash in," earning –  at best – $32,000 a year.