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The $18 Insult
We all know the cycle: staff work 20-hour days and feel betrayed by a small tip. But who is really to blame?
"Who do they think they are not to tip me?? You know what I did for their kid??"
The same complaints are heard each year. Staff in camps around the world are working tirelessly, and they feel underappreciated.
From Modeh Ani in the morning until Hamapil late at night, the staff are around, working, worrying, helping, providing and preventing. And what do they get from the parents? "TYSM for the summer!!" Or a stupid $18 tip. That's called appreciation!?
But then you hear the parents, "I'd love to tip you, but I'm already paying $4,000 for my kid. Do you want me to sell my house?"
In my opinion there's one person at fault. Not the parents, not the camps, but the staff.
The parents can't afford tips, the camps can't afford to pay their staff either. So why then did you accept the job? You knew you were only getting paid $180 in canteen! No one asked you to work here. Especially since you probably squeezed your way to get the job, or would've been devastated without it. Don't pretend like you’re selfless.
I'd love to vouch for you, but you’re the doofus. Don't accept a non-pay job, and then become the victim of poverty. There are many good paying options for the summer. Camp just isn't one of them.
Let's be vocal about this now, in Teves. Before we see all the articles and complaints this upcoming summer.
Don't pretend you didn't know what was happening. Camps don't pay, and parents don't tip. Now make the decision, take it or leave it.