Hospitality Workers Accuse Bosses of Keeping Tips for Themselves

The Staff Canteen

Editor

HOSPITALITY WORKERS ACCUSE BOSSES OF KEEPING TIPS FOR THEMSELVES.

More than half of the workers in the UK say their bosses lie about tips, according to new research by leading price comparison site money.co.uk.

The nationwide study reveals that 1 in 5 hospitality workers in the UK claim their bosses keep all the tips for themselves.

The worrying report follows a government announcement that makes it illegal for restaurant, café, and pub bosses to withhold tips from hospitality workers, who currently represent around 3.2 million employees nationwide, that’s 10% of the entire UK workforce.

Analysis from financial experts at money.co.uk has revealed that waiter and bar staff believe they lose as much as £140 a week as a result of unfair tip distribution by their bosses and managers. This could amount to £7,000 annually.

More than Half of Hospitality workers (55.3%) say they “don’t trust” that their boss or manager is honest about the tips they receive while around 1 in 5 (18.6%) believes their boss takes every penny of the tips they earn.

According to trade association UKHospitality, the hospitality industry contributes £130 billion to the economy each year, with many workers relying on tips to top up their income.

Today’s data finds that the average UK hospitality workplace earns £1,311 a week in tips, with establishments in Scotland (£1,639) earning more than any other UK region, almost double those in the West Midlands (£888), which comes bottom of the pile.

Despite Scottish customers happily parting with their cash, workers north of the border claim they are short-changed more than those in any other region, losing out on a whopping £172 each week due to their employers.

Customers in Manchester are the worst tippers in the UK, according to the research. Hospitality workers in the city take home an additional average of £137 per week. Meanwhile, those in Brighton on the sunny south coast are the best tippers, with workers there taking home a weekly average of £227 in tips.

There’s also a difference in tips when it comes to age, with hospitality workers in Gen Z earning the most a week in tips (£211), which almost doubles what Baby Boomers, who are bottom of the pile, earn in addition to their wage (£119).

James Andrews, Senior Personal Finance Expert at money.co.uk, said: “Within the next year, restaurant, café and pub bosses will be banned from keeping tips left for staff by customers in Britain.

“Following the change in policy, hospitality staff should in theory be taking home more in tips than ever before.”

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