Christmas Tips

SUZYKINS

Tricky one here.
My Daughter works in a local farm shop & they put a tin out in December for tips, the owner takes control of this even though its for the staff.
The owner still has not shared out the tips even though its February! Is there any legal obligation, or can she just keep the collection ?
TIA, she is only 17 so needs every penny.

powerful_Rogue

SUZYKINS said:

Tricky one here.
My Daughter works in a local farm shop & they put a tin out in December for tips, the owner takes control of this even though its for the staff.
The owner still has not shared out the tips even though its February! Is there any legal obligation, or can she just keep the collection ?
TIA, she is only 17 so needs every penny.

Not a consumer rights issue, might be better posted on the Employment section of the forum.

Aylesbury_Duck

Unless there's something in her contract that entitles her and colleagues to a share of the tips, there is no legal obligation on the owner to share them out.

Manxman_in_exile

Surely if the owner of the shop puts out a tin for the collection of tips - with the implication that it's going to the staff* -  then the owner can't keep the tips, can they?

I'd have thought that was fraud as the intent is clearly dishonest!


*I'd like to see the owner of the farm shop justifying keeping the tips on the grounds that it must have been obvious any donations were going to the owner and not the staff!  I wonder what their customers would make of that

Alderbank

The Government have been busy sorting this out since 2016. In September Paul Scully said 'Unfortunately, some employers choose to withhold cash from hardworking staff who have been tipped by customers as a reward for good service. Our plans will make this illegal and ensure tips will go to those who worked for it.'

The government did not say when the new laws would come in. Some people say the government has been too busy recently dealing with more urgent matters to pass new legislation.

sheramber

We always tipped personally, not collectively. If the employee adds it to the 'pot' that is up to them.

Manxman_in_exile

Alderbank said:

The Government have been busy sorting this out since 2016. In September Paul Scully said 'Unfortunately, some employers choose to withhold cash from hardworking staff who have been tipped by customers as a reward for good service. Our plans will make this illegal and ensure tips will go to those who worked for it.'

The government did not say when the new laws would come in. Some people say the government has been too busy recently dealing with more urgent matters to pass new legislation.

Are you saying it isn't already illegal for an employer to solicit tips for staff and not pass them onto staff?

Manxman_in_exile

sheramber said:

We always tipped personally, not collectively. If the employee adds it to the 'pot' that is up to them.

I'm quite happy to tip into a "pot" because otherwise the non-front of house staff miss out.  In a restaurant or whatever it isn't just the front of house and waiting staff who contribute to the quality of the experience.  I think thet only tipping staff personally can end up being unfair on other staff.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Manxman_in_exile said:

sheramber said: many, many years ago. 

We always tipped personally, not collectively. If the employee adds it to the 'pot' that is up to them.

I'm quite happy to tip into a "pot" because otherwise the non-front of house staff miss out.  In a restaurant or whatever it isn't just the front of house and waiting staff who contribute to the quality of the experience.  I think thet only tipping staff personally can end up being unfair on other staff.

Place my wife works at shares the tips out for everyone including the kitchen staff and other staff that contribute to the customer experience without dealing with them face to face.

If it isn't already, it should be illegal for employers to keep staff tips. 

born_again

Does the shop have a social media presence? If so then some messages about the owners behaviour may make them think again.

powerful_Rogue

born_again said:

Does the shop have a social media presence? If so then some messages about the owners behaviour may make them think again.

Just be aware that if your daughter has been there for less then two years, she can probably kiss goodbye to her job.