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Title: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Al Rettich on March 01, 2014, 12:11:16 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Jamin Lynch on March 01, 2014, 01:29:07 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?

Tipping the driver helps to keep the bus between the ditches.  :o
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Tim McCulloch on March 01, 2014, 01:48:38 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?

The driver is not a porter.  I think it courteous and good business to offer a gratuity for services I receive beyond getting me to the next gig safely and on time.

A long, long time ago I saw a little plaque in a front lounge: "Your mother does not have a bunk, kindly pick up after yourself."
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Jason Lavoie on March 01, 2014, 05:39:55 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?

Cab drivers get paid to drive you, waiters get paid to wait on you. yet it is customary to tip them.
It seems to just go by whatever the custom is.

Jason
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Andrew Broughton on March 01, 2014, 06:24:42 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?
Hey Al;
When you finally get a good driver after you've had a run of terrible drivers and consequently no sleep, a dirty/smelly bus, and so on, buying the good driver a drink on a non-drive night once in a while and throwing him $20 at the end of the tour is a small price to pay and I'd happily do it even if it wasn't "the norm". That being said, I wouldn't tip a bad driver, and it should never be mandatory.
All good drivers also clean the bus every day, change the sheets regularly, work as a shuttle driver, and let you know if you left something on the bus when the tour's over!
If you haven't had good drivers in the past, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you're out with us. ;-)
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Al Rettich on March 01, 2014, 07:02:39 PM
Andy,
Agreed on 99% of everything you just said. And I do buy them drinks, meals, etc. on days off.. But when you see a bus driver get $1,800 for overdrives, then being told from mgmt, that you have to tip the driver out $50 that's not cool.. Now, if it's a great bus (decent mattress, can catch up on news in the morning, good coffee maker), and the driver is smooth, ok I can see throwing him a bone.. But when he's making more money than I, I have a issue with tipping.. This particular run, there were four show days in a row where we were over a hour late to load in. Granted it was due to weather, but no one tipped the crew for working their asses off to get it up and done. And why not tip the truck driver who loads and unloads everyday? She should be tipped yes?

See you soon Andy..

Hey Al;
When you finally get a good driver after you've had a run of terrible drivers and consequently no sleep, a dirty/smelly bus, and so on, buying the good driver a drink on a non-drive night once in a while and throwing him $20 at the end of the tour is a small price to pay and I'd happily do it even if it wasn't "the norm". That being said, I wouldn't tip a bad driver, and it should never be mandatory.
All good drivers also clean the bus every day, change the sheets regularly, work as a shuttle driver, and let you know if you left something on the bus when the tour's over!
If you haven't had good drivers in the past, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you're out with us. ;-)
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Andrew Broughton on March 01, 2014, 07:15:45 PM
I would disagree with mgmt on that one, but I guess it all depends on whether or not you need to play along to keep the peace. I've never seen it be mandatory before.
WRT truck drivers, there are good and bad there. A good one can cut your load-out time in half, by knowing the pack, organizing the gear on the dock, keeping the loaders working, calling the right cases and having no damaged gear at the end of the tour. I'd tip those drivers.
Cash tips for the crew are rare, but free meals, drinks, special events on days off happen from time to time. Sounds like we'll have some interesting discussions - see you soon.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Cailen Waddell on March 01, 2014, 07:27:36 PM
In my touring days the bus and lead truck drivers were tipped by the production manager. They saw it as part of the expense of touring and did so out of petty cash. Good drivers were tipped more than bad drivers but it was never something the regular crew had to worry about. 
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on March 01, 2014, 08:10:13 PM
I've heard of cow tipping... :-)

JR
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Tim McCulloch on March 01, 2014, 09:17:31 PM
I've heard of cow tipping... :-)

JR

It's udderly necessary.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Ray Aberle on March 01, 2014, 11:27:20 PM
It's udderly necessary.
Good thing this topic is already in the basement, otherwise I would insist it be mooooooovved here.

-Ray
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Steve M Smith on March 02, 2014, 01:22:52 AM
Cab drivers get paid to drive you, waiters get paid to wait on you. yet it is customary to tip them.
It seems to just go by whatever the custom is

Whilst some people over here (UK) do tip cab drivers and waiters, it is a lot less common than it appears to be in the US.  It would seem to be that the US employers regard tipping as part of their employees pay and pay them less to compensate.


Steve.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Tim McCulloch on March 02, 2014, 04:48:58 AM
Whilst some people over here (UK) do tip cab drivers and waiters, it is a lot less common than it appears to be in the US.  It would seem to be that the US employers regard tipping as part of their employees pay and pay them less to compensate.


Steve.

That's a very polite way to put it...
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: g'bye, Dick Rees on March 02, 2014, 07:26:33 AM
Good thing this topic is already in the basement, otherwise I would insist it be mooooooovved here.

-Ray

A nice bottle of good bourbon is always appreciated...
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Bob Leonard on March 02, 2014, 08:55:59 AM
Bus drivers don't get paid to make your bed, coffee, etc. They get paid to drive. You also can't compare their job to that of a waitress whose paycheck depends on tips. All that being said my days weren't spent on busses with todays features and living space, so anything the driver did above and beyond was appreciated. The driver can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. It helps to tip.


If the driver is an asshole then an appropriate tip might be, "Never look directly into the sun.", and let it go at that.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Paul G. OBrien on March 02, 2014, 01:34:41 PM
Gratuity:
1. (Commerce) a gift or reward, usually of money, for services rendered; tip
2. something given without claim or obligation

I regularly tip service workers for a job well done and 99% of them graciously accept the gift. Those 1 percenters that inform me that a tip is manditory get nothing if I'm in a polite mood and get told to go fuck themselves if I'm not.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Riley Casey on March 02, 2014, 03:21:58 PM
If it's mandatory it's not a tip, it's a fee.  Your employer just shifted part of their payroll load from themselves to their employees.  That is explicitly illegal as you have described it.  A tip for any sort of personal service is often a good idea but an entirely different thing when mandated by an employer.

Andy,
... being told from mgmt, that you have to tip the driver out $50 that's not cool…..

See you soon Andy..
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on March 02, 2014, 04:26:18 PM
Another truism along with the customer is always right, is that the customer pays all payrolls and all business taxes for that matter. Despite the political spin to couch everything in terms of imaginary class divisions. 

In the case of a tour bus driver, there may be a little confusion over who the actual customer is. While the end-end customer may be the meat in the seats listening to concerts, the immediate customers are the meat in the bunks, being driven around.

Tipping being mandated by the "evil" boss man sounds pretty wrong, but it seems if he has the power to mandate a $50 per-rider gratuity, he also has the power to just deduct that from the rider's pay and credit it to the driver's pay.

Depending on when and how the tips are delivered, it could improve relations dramatically between the riders and driver. At worst it becomes a bad socio-economic  experiment. 

The last time I worked directly in the service industry was as a young puke with a paper route. I would get tips from some customers, and others I would have to chase for weeks, just to get paid what I was owed.  :o  I delivered all of their papers either way, but the generous customers got a little better service. That is just human nature in response to the economic incentive ir quid pro quo connecting better service with getting paid more money.

It seems better service and more money are both good things, while the cause and effect of this is not linear or guaranteed.

JR 
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Craig Hauber on March 02, 2014, 10:27:27 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?

No easy answer to this topic.
I think the trick is that the whole system of tipping is based on nobody really realizing what the "correct" time and amount is supposed to be and nobody wanting to be the ass.
Peer pressure plays a large part in the whole thing.

It's the inconsistency that gets me:
For example you are expected to tip a bartender but why not a flight attendant with the drink cart?
You're expected to tip a cabdriver, but not a pilot, train engineer or public transit driver?

I've also lately discovered that out here in the boonies, people rarely tip so it definitely seems to be a city thing.
(the people around here are generous to a fault so I do feel they "tip" in other ways)

So I'll continue being oblivious and just try to gauge the average response by others to a service and follow-suit :-)
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Al Rettich on March 03, 2014, 10:21:46 PM
Let me add to this conversation, the tour was averaging 2-3 overdrives per week. Yes, he was doing light cleanup everyday, but mostly he was driving. Now, from previous PM work I've done, I have a pretty good idea of what the driver is making, and with the overdrives, well he was banking! I've had bus drivers leave notes on where the stage doors are, get things that were broken fixed, always found a way to get us satellite. For that i'd be happy to tip!

No easy answer to this topic.
I think the trick is that the whole system of tipping is based on nobody really realizing what the "correct" time and amount is supposed to be and nobody wanting to be the ass.
Peer pressure plays a large part in the whole thing.

It's the inconsistency that gets me:
For example you are expected to tip a bartender but why not a flight attendant with the drink cart?
You're expected to tip a cabdriver, but not a pilot, train engineer or public transit driver?

I've also lately discovered that out here in the boonies, people rarely tip so it definitely seems to be a city thing.
(the people around here are generous to a fault so I do feel they "tip" in other ways)

So I'll continue being oblivious and just try to gauge the average response by others to a service and follow-suit :-)
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Woody Nuss on March 04, 2014, 02:15:27 AM
When I was TM'ing we would always buy the driver's dinner when we ate together on long hauls. If there was a particularly nasty weather-related overnight or insane long haul, we would sometimes all chip in $20-$40 per guy in a gift card envelope to tip out the driver at the end of the ordeal.
I have never had a driver or bus company agent request or demand a driver tip though.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Mike Diack on March 04, 2014, 06:37:52 PM
I really don't get this at all. Everyone is there to do a job for which they get paid. Sing lead vox, tune guitars, push faders, load boxes, drive the damn bus. What makes the driver's job so significantly different that tipping is in order ?.
(Actually I don't understand any aspect of tipping and think it is a loathesome practise)
M
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Ray Aberle on March 04, 2014, 09:11:08 PM
I really don't get this at all. Everyone is there to do a job for which they get paid. Sing lead vox, tune guitars, push faders, load boxes, drive the damn bus. What makes the driver's job so significantly different that tipping is in order ?.
(Actually I don't understand any aspect of tipping and think it is a loathesome practise)
M
You make a good point. It's just so common in the US to show that extra bit of appreciation with some cash. Of course, everyone thinks about the waiter, making significantly less then minimum wage, and how a tip is needed to allow them to make a decent rate. What they don't think about is often, in a restaurant situation, the server has to also "tip-out" the host, the busser, the kitchen staff, the bartender-- my friend Kyle, serving, would sometimes end up "in the hole" for the day if he got screwed on tips as the "tip-out" is based on the recorded sales, not the actual amount of tips he received.

That being said, if someone has gone out of their way and above their job description, I would like to recognize it. I even use that in the position as a business owner-- if I get great response from a client, I'll pay my guys extra just to show MY appreciation!

-Ray
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Bob Leonard on March 04, 2014, 11:01:56 PM
I really don't get this at all. Everyone is there to do a job for which they get paid. Sing lead vox, tune guitars, push faders, load boxes, drive the damn bus. What makes the driver's job so significantly different that tipping is in order ?.
(Actually I don't understand any aspect of tipping and think it is a loathesome practise)
M

The answer is simple. After a few thousand miles the driver becomes more than a hired hand, and in many cases becomes one of the family. I don't care how much people make, treat me good and I'll treat you good.
 
Some 15 years ago my band was hired to do a wedding. Now I don't do weddings usually, but this was a request from a friend who wanted blues and soul for music, plus the wedding was top notch and the reception was held at the top of the State Street building in Boston. We arrived, had our own room, fully comped bar, food, etc., first class all the way.
 
About 3 hours into the gig, and just before the last set someone in the crowd decided they wanted us to play the "chicken" dance. I had the bartender bring me the largest glass they had, a huge goblet thing that could hold a quart, and told the guy that if he could fill the glass with $10 bills we could do the "chicken" dance, and the money would go to everyone else in the band. I never thought the glass would be filled, but it was. The band was tipped, and we did the song. We were paid over $3K for the gig, plus transportation costs and separate pay for the roadies to load in and out. The tip for playing a really stupid song for 300 drunks? Over $600. Proof positive that a tip can get you almost anything.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Steve M Smith on March 05, 2014, 01:52:45 AM
I would have paid you more than that not to play it!


Steve.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Jeff Bankston on March 06, 2014, 04:24:07 AM
heres my tip > dont smoke in bed ! i worked as a waiter a few times. waiters make less than minimum wage. you do a great job serving and you "might" get a tip. i always did the best i could and never thought about getting a tip. i counted my tips at the end of the day. then the jerk off manager wanted the wait staff to tip the bussers,cooks,dish machine operator even though they made minimum wage and above. i refused and the managers told the bussers not to clean my tables. i cleaned my tables and eventially some regular customers complained that the bussers were ignoring me. the jerk off managers told the customer about me not tipping out the other employess. some of the customers got really irrate about that and told managers it was MY tip. some asked for the owners name and a few days later us wait staff were no longer required to tip the non wait staff from OUR tips. btw i make my own dam bed !
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Tim McCulloch on March 06, 2014, 07:51:04 PM

The answer is simple. After a few thousand miles the driver becomes more than a hired hand, and in many cases becomes one of the family. I don't care how much people make, treat me good and I'll treat you good.
 
Some 15 years ago my band was hired to do a wedding. Now I don't do weddings usually, but this was a request from a friend who wanted blues and soul for music, plus the wedding was top notch and the reception was held at the top of the State Street building in Boston. We arrived, had our own room, fully comped bar, food, etc., first class all the way.
 
About 3 hours into the gig, and just before the last set someone in the crowd decided they wanted us to play the "chicken" dance. I had the bartender bring me the largest glass they had, a huge goblet thing that could hold a quart, and told the guy that if he could fill the glass with $10 bills we could do the "chicken" dance, and the money would go to everyone else in the band. I never thought the glass would be filled, but it was. The band was tipped, and we did the song. We were paid over $3K for the gig, plus transportation costs and separate pay for the roadies to load in and out. The tip for playing a really stupid song for 300 drunks? Over $600. Proof positive that a tip can get you almost anything.

It can make you a bunch of mothercluckers.  ;)
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Jason Lavoie on March 06, 2014, 08:23:34 PM
I've been touring for a long time, and never heard of tipping a driver out. It was explained to me that they didn't have to "straighten" the bus up, or change our sheets. I've always been told they get paid to change sheets. So why tip them? I don't get tipped?

I don't know if it's been said already, but if it's mandatory, then it's not a tip..
and if it is a mandated amount that the driver is expecting then he has no incentive to do more than his contracted amount of work (which is exactly the opposite of the spirit of tipping for above-and-beyond performance)

Jason
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on March 06, 2014, 09:42:57 PM


Perhaps we can fix this with an amendment to the minimum wage legislation. Lets raise the minimum wage to $50 and hr, and force minimum wage workers to tip everybody else.

JR
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Mike Diack on March 07, 2014, 12:38:00 AM

Perhaps we can fix this with an amendment to the minimum wage legislation. Lets raise the minimum wage to $50 and hr, and force minimum wage workers to tip everybody else.

JR
Something else I don't understand about the US. I see mention of waiters getting below minimum wage and being dependent on tips to survive. Surely a minimum is a minimum and anyone paying below that would be subject to legal sanction - It certainly works that way over here.
M
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Steve M Smith on March 07, 2014, 02:54:00 AM
And here (UK).


Steve.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Chris Hindle on March 07, 2014, 07:58:54 AM
Something else I don't understand about the US. I see mention of waiters getting below minimum wage and being dependent on tips to survive. Surely a minimum is a minimum and anyone paying below that would be subject to legal sanction - It certainly works that way over here.
M
Here in "La Belle Provance", there are 2 minimum wages.
Earners with tips, and earners without tips.
I am not sure about the Feds, but "our" Provincial government even has the balls to declare that "Since you get tips, we presume you make xx.x % more than you declare on your tax form, so we'll just adjust your income accordingly"
Nice, huh.
That means that your average waiter now EXPECTS a certain level of tip, just so he can pay his/her tax bill.
The way I figure it, as long as the gov. has it's hand in you pocket, just add it in as a billable service charge, and abolish tips altogether. Much more fair all around.
Like hell I want the overlords to be (in effect) telling me what extra I should be paying for a night out with the wife......
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on March 07, 2014, 09:39:32 AM
Here in "La Belle Provance", there are 2 minimum wages.
Earners with tips, and earners without tips.
I am not sure about the Feds, but "our" Provincial government even has the balls to declare that "Since you get tips, we presume you make xx.x % more than you declare on your tax form, so we'll just adjust your income accordingly"
Nice, huh.
That means that your average waiter now EXPECTS a certain level of tip, just so he can pay his/her tax bill.
The way I figure it, as long as the gov. has it's hand in you pocket, just add it in as a billable service charge, and abolish tips altogether. Much more fair all around.
Like hell I want the overlords to be (in effect) telling me what extra I should be paying for a night out with the wife......
I suspect the government's taxation math is precisely because wait staff traditionally under reported (cash) tip income, or there would have been open revolution when they first passed that law.

JR
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: frank kayser on March 07, 2014, 09:58:55 AM
Something else I don't understand about the US. I see mention of waiters getting below minimum wage and being dependent on tips to survive. Surely a minimum is a minimum and anyone paying below that would be subject to legal sanction - It certainly works that way over here.
M
Nope.  Somehow the minimum does not apply to servers - ridiculous - but it has been that way for as long as I can remember.  Restaurants can't just pay them what they want; the servers are on a different minimum wage scale.  Our county just voted to up the minimum wage, but carved out sweetheart exemptions for a major amusement park on the premise that this is primarily summer work for teens, and they don't need that money to live.


frank

Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Chris Hindle on March 07, 2014, 12:17:23 PM
....but carved out sweetheart exemptions for a major amusement park on the premise that this is primarily summer work for teens, and they don't need that money to live.
Just because Senator Yahoo's kid gets his tuition paid by daddy, doesn't mean that other kids aren't out busting a hump to raise funds for schooling...
just sayin....
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on March 07, 2014, 12:23:50 PM
Nope.  Somehow the minimum does not apply to servers - ridiculous - but it has been that way for as long as I can remember.  Restaurants can't just pay them what they want; the servers are on a different minimum wage scale.  Our county just voted to up the minimum wage, but carved out sweetheart exemptions for a major amusement park on the premise that this is primarily summer work for teens, and they don't need that money to live.


frank

I have wrestled with the philosophical debate surrounding whether an employee should be paid according to his needs or according to how much value he/her creates. In my judgment it should be the latter, but there are entire political systems based on the former.

YMMV

JR
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Al Rettich on March 09, 2014, 06:35:52 PM
This conversation took a very different turn from my original post.
I have wrestled with the philosophical debate surrounding whether an employee should be paid according to his needs or according to how much value he/her creates. In my judgment it should be the latter, but there are entire political systems based on the former.

YMMV

JR
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Geri O'Neil on March 09, 2014, 10:30:55 PM
It's udderly necessary.

Just gonna milk that one for all it's worth?... ;D
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Mark Cadwallader on March 09, 2014, 11:07:55 PM
Something else I don't understand about the US. I see mention of waiters getting below minimum wage and being dependent on tips to survive. Surely a minimum is a minimum and anyone paying below that would be subject to legal sanction - It certainly works that way over here.
M

In the USA, federal labor law allows the states to enact laws that let certain employers pay a sub-minimum wage to workers who "customarily" receive tip income. Federal law requires that the worker earn at least the minimum wage on an hourly basis; the employer is supposed to make up any shortfall. A majority of the 50 "united" states have state laws that allow for the payment of a sub-minimum wage; at least five that I know of require the payment of the stautory minimum, irrespective of whether or not the worker receives tips from customers. 

I have no cow puns to add, but IMHO, paying a sub-minimum wage is fecal matter from a male bovine.

Mark C.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Tim McCulloch on March 10, 2014, 12:52:58 PM
In the USA, federal labor law allows the states to enact laws that let certain employers pay a sub-minimum wage to workers who "customarily" receive tip income. Federal law requires that the worker earn at least the minimum wage on an hourly basis; the employer is supposed to make up any shortfall. A majority of the 50 "united" states have state laws that allow for the payment of a sub-minimum wage; at least five that I know of require the payment of the stautory minimum, irrespective of whether or not the worker receives tips from customers. 

I have no cow puns to add, but IMHO, paying a sub-minimum wage is fecal matter from a male bovine.

Mark C.

Federal law (Fair Labor Standards Act of 1934) allows this.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/03/09/us/the-boys-in-the-bunkhouse.html?hp&_r=0
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Bob Leonard on March 10, 2014, 06:55:35 PM
Tim,
I read every word and watched every video. In this state we have people in government who feel it best to give illegal immigrants free tuition to state college, drivers licenses, welfare, food stamps, Mass health, etc.. And not one of these people, including Obama's uncle have paid into the system.

My father, a WWII veteran is dying. He survived Normandy and 5 other battles. I called our towns veterans rep to ask about possible help with hospice, perhaps with the VA 5 miles from my home. I was told there was nothing he or the VA could do to help. The costs from my pocket per day will be $400. What I want to do right now is punch the shit out of people. People who don't care, people who abuse those less fortunate than themselves. Fuck you Obama, the VA rep from my town, and any living person who thinks it's OK to dishonor people of the greatest generation like my father. Anything for people who abuse the system, and nothing for a 91 year old WWII hero.

Rant over, lock the thread. 
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Cailen Waddell on March 10, 2014, 07:59:44 PM
Bob - my wife works in healthcare, she was pretty certain the va offers hospice and palliative care.  I assume you have checked out: http://www.va.gov/geriatrics/guide/longtermcare/Hospice_and_Palliative_Care.asp#

Sorry to hear it is so difficult to get your father the care he needs and deserves.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: Tim McCulloch on March 11, 2014, 10:28:27 AM
Tim,
I read every word and watched every video. In this state we have people in government who feel it best to give illegal immigrants free tuition to state college, drivers licenses, welfare, food stamps, Mass health, etc.. And not one of these people, including Obama's uncle have paid into the system.

My father, a WWII veteran is dying. He survived Normandy and 5 other battles. I called our towns veterans rep to ask about possible help with hospice, perhaps with the VA 5 miles from my home. I was told there was nothing he or the VA could do to help. The costs from my pocket per day will be $400. What I want to do right now is punch the shit out of people. People who don't care, people who abuse those less fortunate than themselves. Fuck you Obama, the VA rep from my town, and any living person who thinks it's OK to dishonor people of the greatest generation like my father. Anything for people who abuse the system, and nothing for a 91 year old WWII hero.

Rant over, lock the thread.

Medicare paid for my mom's hospice care.  Sorry to hear you've encountered bureaucrats who don't understand their own system.  One of my retired IATSE brothers is receiving palliative care from the V.A.

I hope you dad's passing will be peaceful and free from pain.
Title: Re: Mandatory tipping of a bus driver.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on March 11, 2014, 11:47:44 AM
Bob, good luck with your dad... While there is an implicit promise of care for all former service members I suspect there are high hurdles set up to keep it from being too easy to get. Otherwise their facilities would be overwhelmed. They are certainly being kept busy with all the maimed service members who would have died during former conflicts. And the expanded diagnosis of mental afflictions. 


Be well...you too.

 JR