I generally don’t have too many issues with the laws of our town, state or country. Rules and boundaries are required to maintain a civilized society. Every once in a while, though, I come across a law that makes me scratch my head.
It happened just this week…
I stopped at our local public library to print off a plan document for one of my clients. The coffee bar called out to me; a cup of tea would taste really good. A young man, perhaps sixteen years old, was manning the counter. As a former customer service professional, I was about to be impressed.
I asked if he had any decaffeinated tea options. He came around the counter, and helped me look through the tea display for the decaf choices. I settled on an herbal spice tea. He then asked if I wanted a small, medium or large cup. He pulled sample cups off the shelf to show me the difference. I decided to go with the medium, until he told me that for medium or large I could take two tea bags. I switched to large and grabbed another tea bag. He quickly filled the cup with hot water, pointed out the trash for my tea packets, added a cup holder and rang up my order. That will be $1.70, please. This young man was very customer service oriented. I was impressed.
I searched the counter for a tip jar. Surely a teenager working in a library coffee shop isn’t being paid a lot and I felt his service was above and beyond. I wanted to leave my change and a little more as a gratuity. Here is the conversation that came next:
“Do you have a tip jar? I don’t see one.”
“We can’t accept tips, ma’am.”
“Really? I’d like to give you one for your great service!”
“No, ma’am. We are actually employees of the library. Since it’s a public library, we are public employees. If you give me a tip, you would be guilty of bribing a public official.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Kudos to the young man for being a person of integrity and for the policy explanation. I’ll ask again, though, “Really?”
It seems to me that a teenager serving tea, coffee and cookies at a local library is not a “public official.” He is providing a retail food service. If I ordered my tea at the brand’s stand-alone retail locations, I could tip away to my heart’s content. But, because he is working in the library’s coffee bar, I can’t, even for terrific service.
I quickly researched the law and I don’t believe it really applies. However, the server was so ready with the explanation, someone must have told him that it is so, likely in his job training. Whether it really does or does not apply, there is a perception at my local library that it does.
Maybe this post will reach decision-makers at public libraries. Maybe their coffee bar staff will be allowed to have a tip jar. Maybe common sense will prevail where the law – or the interpretation thereof – has gone too far.
