Baggers who work in commissaries in the United States and abroad all have one thing in common, they work for tips only. But should they mention to customers that they work for tips only?
Unlike DeCA employees such as cashiers, who receive an hourly or salaried pay, baggers in the commissary are not DeCA employees with any of the rights, or benefits that DeCA accords its employees. As such, they do not receive any financial compensation for the work that they do. While some commissaries have tried to combat the problem of non-tipping customers by posting signs by the exit stating that baggers work for tips only, many baggers still spend part of their day working for free.
Unknown Customer Response
Looking at it from a customer's point of view, how would you feel if the bagger who had just bagged your groceries and then loaded up your car mentioned that they work for tips only as you are about to get into your car? While some customers feel ashamed of themselves for not reaching into their pocket to offer a tip to the bagger for bagging two carts' worth of groceries, others might feel offended. Some customers are so offended at the mention of tips that they voice their complaint to the commissary manager.
Correct Thinking
However, some commissary customers are not at all aware that there is any distinction between DeCA employees and baggers, who work on a tip only basis and rely on each and every customer they assist to compensate them for any services rendered. That is the reason why some customers do not offer a tip to baggers, as they feel sure that DeCA already pays them to bag people's groceries. So while the bagger may be fuming at the third customer in a row who has failed to tip them, the customer may be driving away oblivious to any wrong action on their part. But baggers who are forthright enough to politely mention that they are not being paid by DeCA can do much to improve the situation for themselves and for their colleagues who regularly have to deal with some customers who do not give them a tip.
Some commissaries around the world have taken action to try and improve the work environment and overall experience of baggers by posting signs at the cash registers as well as the exits to alert customers of the fact that baggers work for tips only, whereas other commissaries do not offer the same level of support to baggers and it is left to baggers to use discernment before mentioning to customers that they rely solely on tips during their usually work day.
