Do employers have the right to ask your tip amount?

[BillyBatson]

If you are working at a restaurant as a server or anywhere else where people leave you tips, does your employer have the right to know how much you are making in tips alone?

ALso what if you must give a percentage of your tips to bus boys etc, would they have the right to know how much you make in tips then?

 

[Nitemare]

for tax purposes...yes

99.99999999999999% kind of fudge the tip amounts though

 

[BigJ]

Absofrigginlutely.

You are required to report 100% of tip income.

But like Nitemare said, most employers know the game and will let certain things slide. If it is traceable, it is reported (CC tips, tips on check, etc). If it is not traceable, different employers have different minimums they'll need and let you get away with the rest.

As for the others, screw them, unless your employer mandates a specific cut from the tips (like at least 20%).

 

[TallBill]

Yup, they are required by law.

 

[nageov3t]

don't the waiting / bar staff at most restaurants pool all their tips and divide it with the bus boys and stuff at the end of the night anyways?

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: loki8481
don't the waiting / bar staff at most restaurants pool all their tips and divide it with the bus boys and stuff at the end of the night anyways?

not all the time, but usually busboys are taken cared of by the waiters and waitresses whose tables are getting bussed.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: loki8481
don't the waiting / bar staff at most restaurants pool all their tips and divide it with the bus boys and stuff at the end of the night anyways?

Pool their tips? They would not be smart to do that. Those tips serve a purpose - they reward good service. Only the dumb wait staff, or those that know they don't get as good tips as others, would find pooling tips fair.

 

[BoomerD]

If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: loki8481
don't the waiting / bar staff at most restaurants pool all their tips and divide it with the bus boys and stuff at the end of the night anyways?

When I was a bus boy at Rainforest Cafe years back thats how we did it.

Bus boys got a % of the total sales of the night, regardless of the amount the servers were tipped, but the servers paid us out of their tips.

On a busy night with 2 bus boys and 15 servers, we could easily make $25/hr.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

 

[BillyBatson]

I have worked at 2 hookah bars. My first one all servers tipped out 2.5% of their total SALES before tax. So if you sold $1000 worth of stuff before tax you would tip out $25 to management and trust that they distribute it.

My current work place we are supposed to tip out 15% of our total tips and distribute it evenly amongst the bus boys, charcoal guys, and the guy who makes the hookahs. However today I got a call from my boss saying I haven't been tipping out enough. For example last night we only had 1 guy!!!!!! and his job was to make the hookahs and take charcoal. On the slow nights we have 3 gys, busy nights we have 5-6. We were just 2 servers last night so the both of us helped eahc other out we took out our own food all night, made every single one of our drinks, cleaned off all our tables, did all the hosting duties, and I did charcoal for many of my tables throughout the night since the 1 guy couldn't keep up. The server report shows that I made $154 in tips and 15% of that would be like $23.10. I did NOT make $154 in tips, we work off of a "staff bank" system and when I go to work I have to take my own cash to give out change if needed so $72 of that money was mine that I walked into work with so I really made $82 in tips and 15% of that is $12.30? I ended up tipping out the guy $5. Why would he get the entire amount? Normally that would be split between 3 people so he would be getting $4. if he busted ass and did the work of 3 people by all means take the $12 and more! But he didn't he did the work he normally does and he complains and doesn't listen on top of that!

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

Why do you think it should be that way? I think you're missing the point of a minimum wage.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: BillyBatson
I have worked at 2 hookah bars. My first one all servers tipped out 2.5% of their total SALES before tax. So if you sold $1000 worth of stuff before tax you would tip out $25 to management and trust that they distribute it.

My current work place we are supposed to tip out 15% of our total tips and distribute it evenly amongst the bus boys, charcoal guys, and the guy who makes the hookahs. However today I got a call from my boss saying I haven't been tipping out enough. For example last night we only had 1 guy!!!!!! and his job was to make the hookahs and take charcoal. On the slow nights we have 3 gys, busy nights we have 5-6. We were just 2 servers last night so the both of us helped eahc other out we took out our own food all night, made every single one of our drinks, cleaned off all our tables, did all the hosting duties, and I did charcoal for many of my tables throughout the night since the 1 guy couldn't keep up. The server report shows that I made $154 in tips and 15% of that would be like $23.10. I did NOT make $154 in tips, we work off of a "staff bank" system and when I go to work I have to take my own cash to give out change if needed so $72 of that money was mine that I walked into work with so I really made $82 in tips and 15% of that is $12.30? I ended up tipping out the guy $5. Why would he get the entire amount? Normally that would be split between 3 people so he would be getting $4. if he busted ass and did the work of 3 people by all means take the $12 and more! But he didn't he did the work he normally does and he complains and doesn't listen on top of that!

Get a new job if you're going to screw the kid out of his money.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

Why do you think it should be that way? I think you're missing the point of a minimum wage.

WTF? Do you support slavery too?

Minimum wage is supposed to be just that...MINIMUM wage. What do you have against people actually making a LIVABLE wage?
Here in Kahleeforneeya, servers get paid the full minimum wage PLUS tips. On the average, I don't notice any serious price differences in the same chains when I travel...except in extreme cases like Hawaii, which is driven more by overall costs than just labor costs. A meal at someplace like Chili's or TGI Fridays that costs $15 here probably cost very close to that in any other place. The BIG difference here would be property costs, NOT the amount in wages.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

Why do you think it should be that way? I think you're missing the point of a minimum wage.

WTF? Do you support slavery too?

Minimum wage is supposed to be just that...MINIMUM wage. What do you have against people actually making a LIVABLE wage?
Here in Kahleeforneeya, servers get paid the full minimum wage PLUS tips. On the average, I don't notice any serious price differences in the same chains when I travel...except in extreme cases like Hawaii, which is driven more by overall costs than just labor costs. A meal at someplace like Chili's or TGI Fridays that costs $15 here probably cost very close to that in any other place. The BIG difference here would be property costs, NOT the amount in wages.

How is someone who makes more than the minimum wage after tips not making minimum wage?

I worked at Subway in college, I made $6/hr.
A friend worked at Applebee's, and it's not unreasonable to think he made at least $10/hr after tips.

His wages are unacceptable to you?

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: mugs
His wages are unacceptable to you?

Who cares? They were acceptable to your friend, which is how the market should work.

 

[0roo0roo]

if you want to worry about someone making too much money...its not the waiter
its more like the ceo.

 

[nonameo]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

Why do you think it should be that way? I think you're missing the point of a minimum wage.

WTF? Do you support slavery too?

Minimum wage is supposed to be just that...MINIMUM wage. What do you have against people actually making a LIVABLE wage?
Here in Kahleeforneeya, servers get paid the full minimum wage PLUS tips. On the average, I don't notice any serious price differences in the same chains when I travel...except in extreme cases like Hawaii, which is driven more by overall costs than just labor costs. A meal at someplace like Chili's or TGI Fridays that costs $15 here probably cost very close to that in any other place. The BIG difference here would be property costs, NOT the amount in wages.

How is someone who makes more than the minimum wage after tips not making minimum wage?

I worked at Subway in college, I made $6/hr.
A friend worked at Applebee's, and it's not unreasonable to think he made at least $10/hr after tips.

His wages are unacceptable to you?

I think that in any case, it is effed up. Part of the reason people tip as much as they do is because they expect that waiters and waitresses don't get jack from their employer.

OTOH, Boomer also has a point. It's called minimum wage because it relates to wages and not tips. But then again, that's probably why waiters and waitresses are FLSA exempt.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: BillyBatson
If you are working at a restaurant as a server or anywhere else where people leave you tips, does your employer have the right to know how much you are making in tips alone?

ALso what if you must give a percentage of your tips to bus boys etc, would they have the right to know how much you make in tips then?

absolutely for tax purposes. you want to be as truthful with that as possible so you don't get nailed at tax time. i kept all of my receipts from the end of the night for just in cases.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

How many people do you know can live on minimum wage? That's like about 900-950 take home in California. The average rent in Modesto is about $800/month and good luck finding anything much cheaper.

I usually pay the bill with plastic and tip in cash and leave it to the discretion of the waitress on how much she wants to report.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: BillyBatson
If you are working at a restaurant as a server or anywhere else where people leave you tips, does your employer have the right to know how much you are making in tips alone?

ALso what if you must give a percentage of your tips to bus boys etc, would they have the right to know how much you make in tips then?

1) you should report your tips as earned income.
2) IRC most cuts for hostesses/busboys/runners are based on your sales not your tips earned...
3) who cares if you tell your employer hows many $$ in tips you make?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: loki8481
don't the waiting / bar staff at most restaurants pool all their tips and divide it with the bus boys and stuff at the end of the night anyways?

Not all the time. Sometimes it's a pool system but even then those get screwed by servers skimming the tops.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: mugs
His wages are unacceptable to you?

Who cares? They were acceptable to your friend, which is how the market should work.

Yeah, exactly. He didn't need a minimum wage to guarantee him a certain income, because he was making more than minimum wage. I made a lot less, and I didn't need a minimum wage to guarantee me a certain income because I made more than minimum wage.

Originally posted by: Nitemare

How many people do you know can live on minimum wage? That's like about 900-950 take home in California. The average rent in Modesto is about $800/month and good luck finding anything much cheaper.

I usually pay the bill with plastic and tip in cash and leave it to the discretion of the waitress on how much she wants to report.

I don't think there are very many places in this country where you can live off minimum wage. If you're in a position where you are supporting yourself and you have a minimum wage job, you have a problem.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD
If you live in one of the anti-employee states that pays servers and other tipped employees $2.13/hour, then yes, because they are required to make up and difference between your earnings and the minimum wage...which REALLY sux. They SHOULD be paying the full minimum wage PLUS your tips like most civilized states require.

That's kind of arbitrary. Minimum wage is the minimum you're allowed to be paid, why shouldn't tips be counted toward that?

Because the minimum wage is the amount the EMPLOYER is required to pay you...not the customer. The amount the customer pays in tips should be over and above the full minimum wage.

Why do you think it should be that way? I think you're missing the point of a minimum wage.

WTF? Do you support slavery too?

Minimum wage is supposed to be just that...MINIMUM wage. What do you have against people actually making a LIVABLE wage?
Here in Kahleeforneeya, servers get paid the full minimum wage PLUS tips. On the average, I don't notice any serious price differences in the same chains when I travel...except in extreme cases like Hawaii, which is driven more by overall costs than just labor costs. A meal at someplace like Chili's or TGI Fridays that costs $15 here probably cost very close to that in any other place. The BIG difference here would be property costs, NOT the amount in wages.

minimu wage and liviable wage are 2 seperate things. if you are trying to support a family on min wage you have many problems. if you can't get a job that pays livable wage then that is your problem.