Mindi - Etiquette Articles.docx - Moms Need To Know

 Here you go Mindi… From the February ListField Trip EtiquetteTeachers have a rough go of it, huh? I remember the field trips when I was a kid were a nightmare for them. I guess that is logical, however. A hundred kids and two or three teachers inside a museum of breakable, priceless items sounds like a nightmare to me. One of the biggest reasons it was so tough was because the kids clearly had no manners or training. Field trip etiquette was a pipe dream for those poor teachers. Here are some things that parents should consider when sending their kids off for a field trip...some field trip etiquette rules to live by:Caffeine and sugar is not a good idea on the morning of...Parents that think giving their kids a breakfast or lunch of Coke and pancakes with maple syrup is cool are clearly evil. Hyping them up and then sending them off to the field trip for others to deal with is not a good way to endear yourself to the school. Give them a sensible breakfast, lunch and snack please.Make sure your kid knows how to sit on a bus The kids that swing from the rafters on the bus are usually the ones that have no home training. There...I said it. The bottom line on the bus is to sit in your seat, keep your hands to yourself and try not to break the sound barrier. Asking them to be quiet is a bit much I know, but screaming is not necessary.Make sure your kid knows to stay with the groupKids wander off from field trips all the time and that does not always end well. You need to take the time to sit down and discuss this with them. Specifically mention what to do (or not) when your kid’s friends wander off from the group. Stick with the group that is attached to the person in charge. Also make sure your kid has an ID badge with name, school, phone number, address and so on. Safety first, people.Make sure your kid knows that touching is badKids that touch on field trips are the ones that you really want to send back. All kidding aside, touching leads to fighting, arguing and breaking expensive vases that are worth more than mom and dad’s annual salaries combined. Touching is a no go on field trips unless they are invited to do so.Littering is badIt feels kind of silly to say this, but it is so common I thought I might. Make sure your kid knows how to use a trash can. Littering on the bus, in the school or anywhere else is most certainly not okay. Install this in your kid at an early age and it will be automatic by the time they go to a school field trip.Make sure they respect the speakersAll field trip etiquette begins and ends with good manners while any presentations are going on. Make sure they understand that all adults deserve their respect and to be quiet when others are teaching. The last thing you want is a kid yapping about the latest iGadget while someone is trying to teach them about insect reproduction. Field trip etiquette is really just about instilling the basics of good manners with your kids. Make sure they understand what is expected and then give them good nutrition and energy to succeed throughout the day. If you do these things, you will be set up for a wonderful report when you sit down for a face to face at the next teacher conference. ==============================================================Tipping Massage TherapistsTipping massage therapists is a little bit more tricky than one might think. Some people extend a tip and are generally in the right percentage. Unfortunately, the vast majority are way off base with their tip. Part of the problem is that massage therapy tipping is not something that is often brought up. It is not a very common thing to talk about over coffee, so many people simply have no clue what the proper etiquette would be. Here are some tips to consider when tipping massage therapists:Remember that massage therapists generally work on commission - What this means is that the money you are paying them is not all going in their pockets. Part of it goes to the establishment, part to overhead and so on. By the time the therapist gets her cut, she is likely not getting a ton of cash. Tip accordingly.Base your percentage on the original price of massage - While you might have gotten a great deal on your massage through a coupon, referral or package deal, you should base your tip on the original cost of massage. The tip should not shrink along with the price of the massage. The effort is what you are tipping. If you are dissatisfied, a tiny tip is not the right response - Massage is a very subjective thing. It is a very rare circumstance indeed where you would skip out on the tip. If a massage therapist is rude, that is a different issue entirely. If a massage “is not what you had hoped for” then you are dealing with a difference of opinion. First of all, try to communicate with your therapist while they are giving you your massage. This gives them the chance to adapt and fix things. If in the end you are unhappy with your massage, chalk it up to a different opinion and tip on the lower end of the scale. Don’t leave a ridiculously low tip because it simply makes you look like a jerk. Leave a standard tip and remember them the next time you request a masseuse. Keep in mind the time of year - If you see a regular massage therapist, chances are good that you have a pretty solid relationship. Keep in mind when the Christmas season and so on roll around. It is customary to tip higher for people that are regulars in your schedule. It shows you appreciate them and you value what they do.The bottom line - Generally speaking, tipping massage therapists starts at around 15% and has no ceiling. The average tip is about 20%. Tipping massage therapists is pretty much standard fare as long as you consider the surrounding circumstances. Always be aware that they depend on the tips to earn and that they tip amount should not hinge on the discount you received. A great deal on a great massage should equal a great tip.==============================================Etiquette With VendorsWhen vendors come calling at your place of business, there are certain rules that you should follow. Etiquette with vendors is often overlooked, and can even get you into hot water with your employers. Likewise, you have to treat your vendors fairly and politely for good business. How do you balance the relationship?Here are some important things to consider about etiquette with vendors:Keep it professional - Vendors are as a rule very affable, likeable individuals. To sell every single day, they have learned to personalize the relationships where possible….to become your best friend. While being polite and kind is a must, you should strive to keep the relationship on a professional level. Again, this does not mean to be cold. Simply keep things on a polite, business level. Don’t make “deals” outside of the contracted products - Vendors sometimes will offer up bargains on certain things that are “off the books” and this is a recipe for disaster. If the product or deal is not in writing and part of the business dealings with the master company, stay far away from it. This can lead to all kinds of problems. Politely decline such offers with a smile.Don’t accept gifts, extras, etc - These things are often a part of a larger plan. Sometimes they are simply gifts, but you as a business person can’t afford to risk it. Politely decline and let them know that you appreciate it anyway. If they persist, be firmer in your position without being rude. No hanky panky - I don’t care if the Frito Lay man looks like Brad Pitt or the Lance guy is George Clooney….no hanky panky with the vendor is acceptable at any time. If you really are in love, quit your job and run away with them.Do not tip vendors - Vendors are paid by their respective employers and don’t require tipping. Tipping them is kind of like tipping your banker. It makes no sense. (Yes, there are some people out there that do this)Double check all paperwork - It is customary to check paperwork more than once so don’t consider it rude when they do so. Likewise, you should be doing the same thing on your end. If you have discrepancies, it is vital that you address them before the vendor leaves and you sign off on the paperwork. Apologize if the vendor has to wait - Vendors, by nature, are going to be in a hurry. They likely have several stops to make and want to get their day over just like you. That said, be nice enough to apologize when a vendor has to wait to check in. It is not a rule, but it should be.Check in vendors in the order they arrive - If you run a retail store, it is inevitable that a vendor will arrive at the same time as others. When this pile-up happens, politely explain that you will take them in the order that they arrived. Visually “touch” each item you are credited with - If you don’t actually touch the items, at least make sure you see each item. Be careful in how you process your orders because even vendors are occasionally shady. Make sure you are getting what they say you are getting. If not, you are on the hook for it with your signature.Etiquette with vendors is all about professionalism. If you are professional and pay attention to detail, you should have no problems. Other than that you should simply exercise kindness and control. ................
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