Do restaurant waitstaff usually SHARE or KEEP their own tips?
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
scary shari asked:
I’m curious what the policy is in the majority of American restaurants these days. Is it more common for waiters & waitresses to “pool” all their tips so that all the staff can share in the amount equally? Or is it more common for the waitstaff to be allowed to personally keep whatever tips they earn?
I’m curious what the policy is in the majority of American restaurants these days. Is it more common for waiters & waitresses to “pool” all their tips so that all the staff can share in the amount equally? Or is it more common for the waitstaff to be allowed to personally keep whatever tips they earn?
I think the most fair & equitable method is allowing everyone to keep the tips they earn. There are no hard feelings that way, and everyone gets to earn the tips they DESERVE — iif you give great service with a great attitude, you get more tips! If not, you don’t. Simple as that! 
I’ve even heard that there’s a higher turnover rate in restaurants where waitstaff are forced to share their tips with each other, because too many hard feelings & conflicts happen, due to the slackers in the staff “sponging” off the hard workers and sharing in undeserved tip money. That would definitely ****. 
I’d love to hear from anyone who works (or has worked) in the restaurant industry. Thanks!!
