Waiters and other restaurant staff: spill the beans

PenguinJim

Doc_N wrote: »

In what way was my comment rude? And the answer is of course no. Simply because none of those people have wages which are specifically structured in such a way that tips are an integral part.

Ah, good on you. It's sadly become commonplace for people to leave tips without checking the salary, career history and living expenses of the recipient first. I appreciate that people like you and I are rare, but of course it's worthwhile to check three salary slips, three bank statements and make a quick credit check before tipping anyone.

Although it still leaves one unresolved problem. What is to stop them from spending their hand-out on drink & drugs? This problem is resolved with other beggars (homeless people, for example) by not providing the money directly to individuals, but contributing to a charity that then provides the necessary services to the people we want to help. Does anyone know of a similar charity for service staff?

Lyla99

A few years ago I took my employer to a tribunal as he told me that he would withhold my monthly tips for not attending a staff meeting outside of my working hours.

The tips system in that pub/restaurant was that any credit card tips would be paid monthly to us along with our wages and the tips were shared out amongst all staff but divvied up by amount if shifts worked-if I did 8 shifts in a month and you did 4-I'd get a larger share of the money regardless of whether I worked on a quiet Sunday night with no tips and you worked a busy function on a Friday with 120 ppl.

I couldn't attend a staff meeting one afternoon on my (regular) day off and the boss took me aside and told me I wouldn't be getting ANY tips for the month. I raised a grievance but as the ultimate owner and boss he did not change his mind and instead took another months tips from me.

The tribunal ruled that the tips in this case acted as part of my wages and therefore he was unlawfully withholding wages. The way the tips were paid (and taxed) and the fact that the job was advertised at £9 per hour (inc tips) but we were actually paid £6 per hour particularly worked in my favour but it really brought to light how important it is for waiting staff to know their rights around these issues. The boss even took a share of the tips in this pub-grossly unfair as they earn a salary and make money regardless of tips!

967stuart

£6 an hour is very generous.

SandC

I worked in a restaurant many years ago and there was no service charge so any tips were cash. They were put in a pot and shared out between the staff working that evening, including kitchen and bar. The divvying out was done by one of us waitresses.

Back then someone working as a waitress, kitchen staff or a junior in a hair salon, or bar staff generally were on a smaller wage than someone in a shop or basic office admin role. We now have and have had for years a NMW which means that these workers we tend to tip are probably now earning more than some care workers etc. No two places are the same but you do know what your hourly rate will be before you start.

I have never understood tipping taxi drivers though.

Charlotte17

Kim_kim wrote: »

No. The skills to be a waiter in the savoy are quite different to a greasy spoon

And if you once used to work at the Savoy and lost your job the skills you have you forget?

What skills do you need to work at the Savoy, do you know compared to a "greasy spoon"?

DKLS

JeremyCH wrote: »

Looking at some of the other comments where people have complained about the practice of pooling tips, I fail to understand their concerns as good food & service is a team effort starting with the guy or gal who does the slicing and dicing through to the chef - waiting staff - bar staff and pot washer; anyone of whom can destroy a good product. Yes the customer facing staff are the ones the customer sees but what sort of tip would be given if the food is rubbish or the plates not properly clean?

I agree that its a team effort, however there has always been a clear hierarchy, where chefs and Maitre D are king of the hill and the potwash is at the bottom, the places I worked it was a perk to recognise that the waiting staff are essentially sales people and motivated staff have the incentive to cross and up sell to customers hence were allowed to keep their tips as they had worked hard for them.

To have to share tips is an abomination and ruins the dynamic.

Takeaway_Addict

Lyla99 wrote: »

A few years ago I took my employer to a tribunal as he told me that he would withhold my monthly tips for not attending a staff meeting outside of my working hours.

The tips system in that pub/restaurant was that any credit card tips would be paid monthly to us along with our wages and the tips were shared out amongst all staff but divvied up by amount if shifts worked-if I did 8 shifts in a month and you did 4-I'd get a larger share of the money regardless of whether I worked on a quiet Sunday night with no tips and you worked a busy function on a Friday with 120 ppl.

I couldn't attend a staff meeting one afternoon on my (regular) day off and the boss took me aside and told me I wouldn't be getting ANY tips for the month. I raised a grievance but as the ultimate owner and boss he did not change his mind and instead took another months tips from me.

The tribunal ruled that the tips in this case acted as part of my wages and therefore he was unlawfully withholding wages. The way the tips were paid (and taxed) and the fact that the job was advertised at £9 per hour (inc tips) but we were actually paid £6 per hour particularly worked in my favour but it really brought to light how important it is for waiting staff to know their rights around these issues. The boss even took a share of the tips in this pub-grossly unfair as they earn a salary and make money regardless of tips!

This bit I disagree with, the manager or boss often works just as hard and as such should be entitled to a share of the tips, regardless if they are already paid more.

BigBird76

I've worked in hospitality for years and tipping has always been different and caused issues within the working environment. No one could ever agree on what was fair in splitting tips. I think if a server receives a tip because they have given good service then they should be able to keep their tip and share with people they are serving that table with. I tip because of service not because of any other reason so this is why I don't agree with a service charge it is a way companies force us as a consumer to pay for a service which we are already paying for in the menu pricing. I don't believe most of the time the staff get the money received from a service charge. The other issue is then that tips should be declared to enable us to pay tax on them so should they go through the business it really is a minefield with so many factors and will there ever be an answer that is correct for everyone. One thing I do disagree with is that companies take or benefit from tips given to the service staff.

brightonman123

having worked in a kitchen, we rarely saw any share of tips.. some nice waiting staff got us a few beers after a busy night, but that was it.

Minnibix

Hi

I am a bit confused about tipping are waitresses and waiters paid less that the minimum wage, and if so is this legal.

Both me and my partner are paid the minimum wage and I thought that no-one could be paid less. I also thought that if someone worked part time then their pay would be pro rata

Am I barking up the wrong tree