Restaurant keeping staff tips

ArtoDeeto

That is completely disgusting and if their customers knew this they would walk out - well I would. I tip staff on the basis of good service knowing they don't get paid a fat salary and it goes to them : if the employer wants to shark that then I would insist on a sneaky tip or not pay. If they want to up their profits up the price. I am sure it must be breaking consumer or labour laws to do what they are suggesting.
TBH what they are doing makes me cross.

Takeaway_Addict

ArtoDeeto wrote: »

That is completely disgusting and if their customers knew this they would walk out - well I would. I tip staff on the basis of good service knowing they don't get paid a fat salary and it goes to them : if the employer wants to shark that then I would insist on a sneaky tip or not pay. If they want to up their profits up the price. I am sure it must be breaking consumer or labour laws to do what they are suggesting.
TBH what they are doing makes me cross.

Let's just ban tipping. As in resevoir dogs, why tip a restaurant but not Mcdonald workers...they do the same job!

Stiltonian

If you declare your tips to HMRC, then I would think what your boss is doing would be classed as unlawful deduction of wages. Then again, I don't suppose many people declare them.

Naf

ArtoDeeto wrote: »

That is completely disgusting and if their customers knew this they would walk out - well I would. I tip staff on the basis of good service knowing they don't get paid a fat salary and it goes to them : if the employer wants to shark that then I would insist on a sneaky tip or not pay. If they want to up their profits up the price. I am sure it must be breaking consumer or labour laws to do what they are suggesting.
TBH what they are doing makes me cross.

Actually they have just upped the prices too.

To respond to some others;
no, it isn't a chain,
no handbook or contract (I've only been there 5 weeks - but others don't have them either).

I have an easy situation on the one hand; I'm there for another 5 weeks at most before I go back to uni. In theory I could just about scrape by until then without the job anyway.
On the other hand I'm a supervisor, so would be expected to 'tow company line' even when I think its a sh!tty way to treat people; especially as they admit (in the email that informed us all about it) that its not all staff, but all are being punished until the rest sort themselves out.
Hence why I want to know if it's legal, as if not then I'm in a stronger position to support staff.

Takeaway_Addict

Naf wrote: »

Actually they have just upped the prices too.

To respond to some others;
no, it isn't a chain,
no handbook or contract (I've only been there 5 weeks - but others don't have them either).

I have an easy situation on the one hand; I'm there for another 5 weeks at most before I go back to uni. In theory I could just about scrape by until then without the job anyway.
On the other hand I'm a supervisor, so would be expected to 'tow company line' even when I think its a sh!tty way to treat people; especially as they admit (in the email that informed us all about it) that its not all staff, but all are being punished until the rest sort themselves out.
Hence why I want to know if it's legal, as if not then I'm in a stronger position to support staff.

As you know with 5 weeks service u are in a very weak position. its honourable you want to do the right thing but personally keep your head down and get to the end of the 5 weeks remaining

spacey2012

How much extra do you get an hour for supervising ? 50p
I would look for another job whilst you have the chance, this sucks and it is not your job to implement it.

AP007

Yes its legal as long as they are not using it to pay you with.

Customers should be made aware however what the company do with the tips.

Like I say make sure the staff tell the customers where the tips go if this happens

Southend1

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

As you know with 5 weeks service u are in a very weak position. its honourable you want to do the right thing but personally keep your head down and get to the end of the 5 weeks remaining

And this is exactly why workers in this country are suffering ever worsening working conditions.

Why not make a stand for your colleagues' sake?

It may not be legal anyway as you may be able to argue that as tips were always shared in the past this is now contractual through custom and practice.

If you are a union member your union will be able to give you access to legal advice on your situation. Your rep will also help you raise a collective grievance with the employer.

Take a stand! As others have said, customers are tipping staff to supplement their low incomes and reward good service, not to line the pockets of the owner.

mountainofdebt

Naf wrote: »

? Surely the customer leaves the tip with the expectation that its going to the staff who served them, not as yet more added to the price on their bill?

And what about the poor non serving staff - chefs etc?

AP007

mountainofdebt wrote: »

And what about the poor non serving staff - chefs etc?

In a good place all tips are shared equally depending on shifts worked. That's what we used to do.