'Tips as wages' loophole to close - UK

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Employers are to be banned from using tips and service charges to "top up" staff pay to meet the minimum wage from October, the government says.

The change will benefit those working in industries such as restaurants, where tipping is commonplace.

Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden said that the practice of allowing firms to use service charges to pay staff was unfair.

Unions, which have long campaigned for change, welcomed the move.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8035631.stm

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Good news that. I reckon you could do with in the USA too.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Probably won't happen here. Little to no unions involved in the restaurant business here. Does this

apply to others, like hotel maids and tour guides?

[dipsydoodle]

4. All I would guess

Notice it says "in industries such as...." and then uses a single example. It would be unusual here for such a change in law not to be universally applied so yes - would protect hotel maids etc. I must confess I'm not sure of the way in which tour guides actually get paid.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Was worded slightly differently on our tv news

Definately all trades - no exceptions !

[CreekDog]

12. It's law in California

and Las Vegas has a heavily unionized restaurant business thanks to the casino workers.

[AndyA]

2. I think it's time this change came to the states.

I worked as a waiter in high school, and it was a pretty demanding job. The wait staff can make or break a restaurant. It doesn't matter how great the food and atmosphere are, if the service is bad it will never make it. And, a great wait staff can make up for food that's not always consistent.

[PassingFair]

3. Good for the UK...I have relatives in the UK and they tip like MISERS.

My cousins SWEARS that it is an INSULT
to tip food service people.

When we traveled with him to France
and when waiters heard his accent,
they veered off!

[WriteDown]

5. Actually...

If you've ever waited tables in the US, you'd know that it is a nightmare to have a table of Europeans. Tipping is just not something they do.

On the other side of the coin, if you've ever been somewhere like the Caribbean where gratuity is automatically included regardless of party size, you have seen what truly terrible service is like. Unbelievable wait times for food, waiters literally throwing plates on the table, etc.

[spinbaby]

8. On the other hand...

The Japanese don't tip and the best service I've ever experienced was in Tokyo.

[Retrograde]

11. and the French have "servis compris"

Service charge is included in the price, and the service tends to be very good. Restaurants in Italy typically have a "table charge" per person. I'd like to see the price on the menu be what you actually pay - food, tax and service included.

San Francisco recently passed a law requiring restaurants to offer health care for workers and guess what? Many are now adding a 3-4% "Health Tax" to the bill.

[CreekDog]

13. I believe the Japanese workers in these industries are paid far better than here

even without tips.

[SPedigrees]

9. I HATE having to deal with food in any capacity.

So I tip 20% and add to that if service is good.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

14. It depends where you go

I usually tip, and sometimes I'm met with surprise as if they're saying "what's this money for?", my tip was even refused by one waitress who exclaimed "WHAT are you doing?"

[T_i_B]

15. Well in fairness Americans do have a reputation for tipping well.

As to us Brits, it depends. A lot of my friends tip well on principle but my last girlfriend was the exact opposite.

[Revolution9]

6. they will never do this in the US

corporations that serve shitty food (applebees, other chains) rely on the cheap hourly labor these waitresses make.republicans would frame it as a assault on "small business"

[Kweli4Real]

10. My tips always start at 20% ...

It'll go up from there to 30% for exceptional service or down to 15% for terrible service. Even if the waitstaff is terrible, they still have to eat <... I either pay through the tip or through my taxes.>

And having been a waiter, I ALWAYS TIP IN CASH. I can't tell you how many $300 credit card paid for meals resulted in $10-25 dollar tip pay-outs at the end of the night. I recall quitting at least 3 jobs saying: "HEY RESTAURANT OWNER: Make your money off your food, not my tips [that I still have to pay taxes on." .

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Tipping question in the UK: do you tip for food in a pub?

I must admit I don't. One thing is that you don't always know if the staff will see it (after all, you paid for the food at the bar when you ordered), and some bastard might nick it; but you could tip as soon as you've finished the food, I suppose, and in a not-too-busy pub, they'd probably see it if you leave it behind when you go. Am I just using an excuse to be mean?

[Nihil]

17. Normally yes

I give it to whoever's been serving me when I settle up.

(Mind you, I'm still a tight-fisted Brit when compared to Americans ...
there's no way I'd give a 20% tip - none at all!)

[dipsydoodle]

18. Not if its just bar food

If I was sitting at a table then I do the same as I would in a restaurant becaseu its really no different.