I'm sorry if I offend, but I really think it should be illegal for fast food restaurants to put out tip jars. Alternatively, if they are allowed to do so, no low-paying employer should be allowed to tell an employee that they may not accept tips. I bought food at an Asian place in the mall's food court the other day. The guy who took one step while loading my plate with brown rice and orange chicken had the nerve to put out a tip jar. I'm sorry, but I bet he makes the same amount per hour as I do, and I put a heck of a lot more miles on my feet putting away the mounds of clothes women try on at the fitting room and don't buy at my department store than he does. I'm not allowed by my employer to accept tips, but I'll be darned if I haven't earned them. Buffets where you make the laps putting food on your plate yourself have the nerve to ask for tips for the girl who got my pop from the fountain machine (which I'm pretty sure I could do myself, heck McDonald's lets me do it), and they also put a tip jar out by the cashier. Really? Was pushing those buttons on the register grueling for him? I know these people don't make a great living. There's a lot of people with low-paying jobs. I'm one of them. If I can't accept tips for my hard work, they shouldn't be able to either. By the way, are these restaurants reporting those tips the way they should be?
JKLipps -
Some employers may opt to participate in a 'tip credit' policy. Under this policy, employers can pay employees less than the minimum wage if their hourly wage + tips = at least the current minimum wage.
Not every state allows this policy, so employers should check with their state labor department to see if they are allowed to use this method of compensation.
Thanks for your comment and starting this discussion. I am curious to know if any of our Community members use a tip credit policy in their businesses. Employers - please chime in with your experiences!
To your other point, employers are required by the IRS to report wages, tips, or other compensation paid to their employees via tax Form 941. This reporting is usually done on a quarterly basis.
Message Edited by NicoleD on 09-29-2009 01:24 PM
From my experience, allot of smaller run busineses or even chains like starbucks have tip jars, they normally don't make a big deal about it, but I always put any change i get back thats less then a quarter into the tip jar, i just cant be bothered to carry around nickles, dimes, pennies, its a waste. Also, when i put money into a tip jar, and they don't say thanks, i never do it again,
NicoleD | Former Moderator | 9/29/2009 - 1:23 pm
GoodFTA | Contributor | 9/30/2009 - 1:50 pm
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