Do most employees actually get electronic tips (for counter service)?

[Anonymous]

Asking because my kid had a summer job (which she quit) at a mom-and-pop food place and the owner pretty much admitted to her that electronic tips are used to cover business expenses. I've since asked a counter worker at another independent food place if she received the electronic tips and she shook her head no. How common is this? Should I be tipping exclusively in cash?

[Anonymous]

What? Following.

[Anonymous]

That's awful. These business owners should be reported for wage theft.

I "volunteer" by working concessions at sporting events, concerts, etc. through my kid's soccer club and the tips are applied to my kid's soccer fees. On a good night I make about $30 an hour doing this, so at a busy place it's not an insignificant amount.

[Anonymous]

When I get a prompt for counter service tip on the screen, I often ask the person helping me if it actually goes to the staff. Then I base my decision on the answer I receive.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'd like to see the NY Times or another newspaper do a story about this. I'd guess that most businesses are being honest with this, but there are others that are not at all. And it's not an insignificant amount of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I get a prompt for counter service tip on the screen, I often ask the person helping me if it actually goes to the staff. Then I base my decision on the answer I receive.

How often do the employees say they don't get the tips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I get a prompt for counter service tip on the screen, I often ask the person helping me if it actually goes to the staff. Then I base my decision on the answer I receive.

How often do the employees say they don't get the tips?

I would say only 20% of the time. This is of course just my personal experience.

[Anonymous]

I want to know this too!

I worked at a restaurant in my 20's and the owner was such a thief. When we waited on large parties the policy was that at lunch, you got a flat $25 for the event, and 2 people waited on each party. At dinner it was $50 per person. The owner pocketed the rest AND made us tip out on the flat rate tip. I once got a $25 dollar tip out of a several hundred dollar tip (fancy office Christmas lunchtime party).

[Anonymous]

I really think we all need to rise up against tipping.

[Anonymous]

No. I never tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really think we all need to rise up against tipping.

100%. Give our money to places that include tip or build it into the price.

[Anonymous]

We did. The owner had us cash them out at the end of each shift and we split amongst all staff. Was a counter service cafe, folks ordered at the cashier and we brought everything to the table/bussed.

[Anonymous]

Tips are so easily fingable. I really hate this whole practice.

I've also had servers tell me that they will not see tips. One of them even told me that the owner takes cash from them as well.

[Anonymous]

You had better be making at least minimum wage if the business owner is keeping the tips.

[Anonymous]

My daughter works at a coffee shop (not Starbucks) and yes, they get the tips from credit cards.