Thoughtful Gestures

We have a person coming to wash the cars and to do some small odd jobs on weekends.

On the first day of his work when he finished all his work, like any other person he would have had some amount in his mind that he will get so much for his work. When he counted the money what we paid him for his job his face lightened up, he got it more than he had expected, he said Namaskara so many times before he left. When he came next weekend we got little extra work done but paid the same money as it was small work and also we had given him food. We thought there is no need to pay for that extra work, but somewhere it was killing me, I was wondering whether I should pay or not to pay, but finally I ended up paying. He was again very happy. Such small amounts may not matter to us but to them its a huge amount or they may even adjust that amount for one meal. I felt very nice after paying his dues. I always want to reach out to people with this message, that please stop bargaining with people who do real hard work, instead at the end of the day pay him extra, as a tip. He will really feel happy, it will make him come back to you to do any kind of job you want to get done and not only for that, it is also to see that wonderful grin on his face, as he knows that he will never get under paid for his work, he will do that work with more accuracy and with interest.

I also want to say that please do not bargain with the roadside vendors and cart fellows, they do lot of hard work to make both ends meet. They walk and walk miles together to earn that little money. Instead if you like some stuff please pay him little extra as tips or for his craftsmanship, try to appreciate their work. Try doing that it will make lot of difference not only to him but to you also. You will feel very happy within.

Usha Agarwal

Your Comments

Hi, Yes I do agree with you to a great extent but at the same time don't you think that for any middle class family or lower middle class families, the same bargaining skills does makes a lot of difference to their lives. You can't pay that extra little bit every where and every time . Because at the end of the month you will find that you have saved around 100-200 Rupees by merely negotiations with different vendors & people. And my friend this 100-200 Rupees makes a lot of difference to any low salaried,single earning member of a family. However,I do agree that the same should not become a habbit as it looks very bad & also gives a bad impression to the other person. Excess of everything is bad ..

Name :Shilpa Rathi

Usha That makes a lot of sense, even i keep saying the same thing.. one should know where to put your negotiation skills into action. As they say "Discretion is better form of velour". I fully subscribe to that.

Name :Vishnu Agarwal

Hi, This is really a good gesture and indeed good article too. I also feel the same to people who do hard work. We need to pay them more and ask our elders Grand mothers, grand fathers and even sometimes our parents) not to bargain with those people who do real hard work.

Name :Harish

Hi, I agree to what ever you say regarding bargaining its right because it happens in our society that we don't mind paying a huge bill at big stores we will pay with a smile but when it comes to poor people we bargain.......BUT why to pay extra...it is not about affording it is about making it a habit....tip should be a surprise of the extra work what actually happens is once u pay extra they start expecting which I think is wrong....there was this small boy who use to do home delivery of daily things from the baniya shop. while paying if there was a change I never use to take it back....i never realised that he started getting change coins) of more money left....and it so became a habit that he started expecting it from other people in the society. one day this owner of the shop called me and told me not to do all this as his boys prefer to go to places only where tip is given. pay only for the work they have done pay them extra at times but don't maidens culture. Your letter is a good reminder about the virtues of a house wife to the modern generation. Keep it up.

Name :sonal

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