Is It Acceptable For Cafe Owners to Take Tips From Servers?

homeless student · 24-07-2013 12:24PM #1

I used to work in a cafe where the 2 owners insisted we(the waiters) shared the tip with them. I thought it was very unfair at the time as i'm sure the customers wouldn't of wanted the tips to go to the owners, the owners worked n the cafe every day but they were taking home the profits, unlike us who were on minimum wage.

Gone Drinking · 24-07-2013 12:27PM

That's a tough one.. if they both work in the kitchen or one in the kitchen and one waiting, then they would be entitled to the tips also I suppose.

NoCrackHaving · 24-07-2013 12:28PM

homeless student wrote: »

I used to work in a cafe where the 2 owners insisted we(the waiters) shared the tip with them. I thought it was very unfair at the time as i'm sure the customers wouldn't of wanted the tips to go to the owners, the owners worked n the cafe every day but they were taking home the profits, unlike us who were on minimum wage.

It depends on where you work. I used to work in a pizzeria where all of the staff (waiters, runners, cooks) split the tips as we were all on the same wage. Generally in bars the lounge staff keep the tips and the barmen have a higher hourly wage.

I've never really heard of an owner asking for tips though but if they were doing the cooking, serving etc. as well I can see their viewpoint even if it seems a bit mean.

Amirani · 24-07-2013 12:28PM

If the owners are actually working in the business then I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

BeerWolf · 24-07-2013 12:28PM

I've always been under the belief that tips go towards the 'servers', for their good services that warranted it. Their employer's already making the profit off the actual sale of the food!

If the employer is also servicing, then sure - why not.

Frosty McSnowballs · 24-07-2013 12:29PM

Some places pool tips, some don't.

If the owners are also workers then yeah, I see no problem with it. If they just turn up at the end of the day and look for half...well, that's a load of cock.

homeless student · 24-07-2013 12:30PM

the employers helped make the food but never served it.

Frosty McSnowballs · 24-07-2013 12:31PM

homeless student wrote: »

the employers helped make the food but never served it.

So, they work there?

General General · 24-07-2013 12:31PM

homeless student wrote: »

I used to work in a cafe where the 2 owners insisted we(the waiters) shared the tip with them. I thought it was very unfair at the time as i'm sure the customers wouldn't of wanted the tips to go to the owners, the owners worked n the cafe every day but they were taking home the profits, unlike us who were on minimum wage.

Owners haven't grasped the fact that they are no longer working for minimum wage, even if they aren't necessarily making much more than (or as much as) that having set up as owners. It's completely unacceptable, given that you're not getting some (even microscopic) percentage of the business as a 'going concern' for every week you put in there.

crockholm · 24-07-2013 12:32PM

I can see your point,being a bit cheesed off,but all things being equal,if they work the kitchens/serving area they should be entitled to a fair % of the tips. I f the cafe is new,they will prob be under a mountain of debt just to get it up and running and like yourself rely heavily on tips to get through the week.

Mr. G · 24-07-2013 12:33PM

Depends on the circumstances. If they are all on the same wage and all work together to produce the product, yes definately. I think cafe owners should not take tips given directly by customers for themselves though.

If you have some lazy colleague doing nothing and getting bits of the tips, then no..

Hilly Bill · 24-07-2013 12:33PM

The servers are only serving the food/drinks etc. They are not responsible for the quality of the products that they serve.
People tend to tip for the quality of the food rather than how the food was delivered to them.

homeless student · 24-07-2013 12:33PM

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

So, they work there?

yes they work there but I think its very sly of the owners as there is no way a customer would want any of the tip to go to the owners.

Das Kitty · 24-07-2013 12:34PM

A relative of mine works in a place where the tips get shared evenly between all the staff. Including the owner who works upstairs on paperwork and his wife who's on the payroll but spends her time looking after their 4 kids and doing nothing in the restaurant.

padd b1975 · 24-07-2013 12:35PM

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

So, they work there?

They would have sourced the ingredients though and would have had massive input on the quality of them.

RossyG · 24-07-2013 12:35PM

A friend of mine worked in an now-closed cafe(*) ten years ago, where the manager would take the tips and keep them. The staff got nothing. I thought that was outrageous.

(*) For the record, the Cafe Coco in Chichester, West Sussex.

NoCrackHaving · 24-07-2013 12:35PM

homeless student wrote: »

yes they work there but I think its very sly of the owners as there is no way a customer would want any of the tip to go to the owners.

How do you know?

I said I used to work in kitchens and not on the floor and tips were still split. If the owners are doing the cooking and serving, fair enough I could see how they might be entitled to some of the tips-tipping isn't just for the server/waiter.

hfallada · 24-07-2013 12:36PM

You and the other employees ( not the owners) should have taken more of the tips than them. If a chef is also a owner he doesnt take part of the tips from the waitresses as he is generally on a higher wage.

Thats why I hate service charges as I seriously doubt the money is going to the employees

fishy fishy · 24-07-2013 12:36PM

tips are for the employees. The tips are not given to the owners of the business. The owner takes the profits. the employees are only on a wage and therefore gets the tips.

put the tips into the employees hands. do not tip the owners.

kraggy · 24-07-2013 12:36PM

What I dont understand is why we have tips in this country in the first place? Our pay structure for hospitality staff is totally different to America's in that ours are paid a full wage anyway while those in America are not.

Why should somebody be paid extra for simply doing their job? A teacher or nurse who puts in a valiant effort to help people doesn't get more financial reward than a crap teacher or nurse so why should a waiter? It's their job.

NoCrackHaving · 24-07-2013 12:36PM

RossyG wrote: »

A friend of mine worked in an now-closed cafe(*) ten years ago, where the manager would take the tips and keep them. The staff got nothing. I thought that was outrageous.

(*) For the record, the Cafe Coco in Chichester, West Sussex.

That's just a complete joke in fairness, doubt many people would be like that.

homeless student · 24-07-2013 12:39PM

kraggy wrote: »

What I dont understand is why we have tips in this country in the first place? Our pay structure for hospitality staff is totally different to America's in that ours are paid a full wage anyway while those in America are not.

Why should somebody be paid extra for simply doing their job? A teacher or nurse who puts in a valiant effort to help people doesn't get more financial reward than a crap teacher or nurse so why should a waiter? It's their job.

no one said you have to tip, did they? but when people choose to tip, it should go to the staff not the greedy owners.

Caliden · 24-07-2013 12:39PM

Acceptable? In society, probably not as it's a díckish move.
Illegal? If you're getting the minimum wage then it's probably not.

In Massachusetts the minimum wage is $8 but a lot of restaurants will pay $2-3 basic (to cover taxes) and then you get a cut of the tips (which you also have to declare for taxes purposes).

If you have a bad week and don't make enough tips, the restaurants will pay you enough to cover the minimum wage amount.

Frosty McSnowballs · 24-07-2013 12:40PM

homeless student wrote: »

yes they work there but I think its very sly of the owners as there is no way a customer would want any of the tip to go to the owners.

Of course you would think its sly. You have a job because of the owners. You could always try and get another job.

When I tip, it's a reflection on the food quality, quantity, atmosphere and service. Someone sources the ingredients, someone preps the meals, someone cooks the food and someone brings the food from A to B.

You are no more entitled to it than anyone else that works there.

padd b1975 wrote: »

They would have sourced the ingredients though and would have had massive input on the quality of them.

That's true, I agree.

MiseryMary · 24-07-2013 12:41PM

homeless student wrote: »

I used to work in a cafe where the 2 owners insisted we(the waiters) shared the tip with them. I thought it was very unfair at the time as i'm sure the customers wouldn't of wanted the tips to go to the owners, the owners worked n the cafe every day but they were taking home the profits, unlike us who were on minimum wage.

Well I give tips in the cup at the counter after i paid for the good service and the nice food i had , My sister works in a restaurants herself she works between Dinner counter or kitchen back room and what they do with the tips its kept in a Large jar tips that had build up over time kept in the back and if one of the girls was stuck money wise they use it and she gives it back when she can, they keep it there for emergency wise or they split it between the workers fair wise .

homeless student · 24-07-2013 12:41PM

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Of course you would think its sly. You have a job because of the owners. You could always try and get another job.

I don't work there anymore, moved on to better things.

Frosty McSnowballs · 24-07-2013 12:43PM

homeless student wrote: »

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Of course you would think its sly. You have a job because of the owners. You could always try and get another job.

I don't work there anymore, moved on to better things.

Do you get tips now?

awec · 24-07-2013 12:47PM

homeless student wrote: »

the employers helped make the food but never served it.

If the food was poor you'd be getting no tips, ultimately those who cook the food will have the biggest impact on the amount given as a tip.

homeless student · 24-07-2013 12:48PM

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

homeless student wrote: »

Do you get tips now?

im in college now, doing a post grad.

kraggy · 24-07-2013 12:50PM

homeless student wrote: »

no one said you have to tip, did they? but when people choose to tip, it should go to the staff not the greedy owners.

There's an expectation in restaurants for people to tip. This thread is about tipping. Ergo, I made a point about tipping.

If tips have been given, they should go to the staff working that shift. In this case the owners are working so technically they should get a share, but unless their business is doing badly, I think it's bad form as they are reaping the benefit of the profit so the employees should get all of the tips to share.

Frosty McSnowballs · 24-07-2013 12:52PM

homeless student wrote: »

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

im in college now, doing a post grad.

So no tips then, do you tip your lecturer? Make sure it's sufficient....he need to share it with the janitor.

All joking aside, pooling the tips with staff and owners isn't the worst thing in the world. There are people working in the service industry that are badly treated, under paid and good luck to getting proper breaks, food and days off.

You are lucky you made it out alive.

Enjoy college

Is It Acceptable For Cafe Owners to Take Tips From Servers?

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