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Accepting tips in the service industry?

La Femme Fatale

La Femme Fatale

The Queen
Moderator
So, I work in customer service and yesterday I was given a very generous tip from a guest who I had gotten out of a big jam a few days ago. The tip was well over what I make in several days (not to mention twice the cost of his bill). I've always kept the tips I've received before (after all, why shouldn't I? The maids, waitresses, bellmen - everyone else in the hotel can keep their tips) - but the hotel manager was right there and told the gentleman that I am unable to accept it as it is a liability. I got SO angry. He took me aside afterwards and said that the guest might have turned around and said I stole it if something were to go badly. But my two co-workers were there besides myself and the hotel manager, plus cameras and about three other guests. Like WTH!

Does anyone else work in service and are not allowed to keep their tips???
 
No... :/ I've never had anything like that happen before and I worked at a 5 star bed and breakfast for some time. It could be because it was so much I guess, I don't know.
 
The bigger the tip should've shown them how good of a asset you are for them. An honor for the business really.
 
My fiancee used to work in a restaurant, and even though it TRULY was a restaurant, they labeled it as "Fast Food" that way the customers couldn't tip the servers...Total BS.
 
When I worked in a hotel we were forbidden from even accepting tips - regardless of the amount or the service they were in response to. I have no idea why, either. I think the managers were just jealous that they would never be tipped...mostly because sitting in your office chatting to your mates on the phone and drinking free shots from the bar is not exactly in the interests of customer service.

I think if someone has been given a tip, they should be able to keep it. It's a gift, after all, and if the manager was so concerned about "liability" (which sounds like code for "waaaah! what about me???"), then the guest should have been offered the option of sealing the gift in an envelope and signing a small slip of paper to state that it is a gift for you of a certain amount. All bases covered, no liability and the guest is not humiliated by being refused.
 
I think your manager was unfair and you have every reason to be angry. You're in a service industry, not public service. I understand that you don't have any rules that forbid tips, so basically your manager is a thief.

The "liability" sounds like BS, and as you say, you had witnesses who could confirm it was a legitimate tip if he would later say you stole it.

You can't let him get away with this because it not just about the cash. But the question is, what can you do? I live in a different country with different rules so I can't tell you what to do. So talk with your union or someone. As I said, this is not just about the money, it is also about something more important: Your rights and your dignity. Being humiliated is bad enough, but being humiliated wrongly is worse. What a complete ass.
 
Oh I know, I was so embarrassed as the manager actually started arguing with the guy about not allowing me to accept the tip right in the middle of the lobby. It's like... the guy is only trying to be nice.

I think I'm going to go to him or even human resources and ask where in print this rule is.. at the hotel all the new rules are posted as memos and we have to sign them to confirm we've read and understand it. I've never signed any memos about not being allowed to accept tips.

Ugh, he's such a jackass.
 
La Femme Fatale said:
Oh I know, I was so embarrassed as the manager actually started arguing with the guy about not allowing me to accept the tip right in the middle of the lobby. It's like... the guy is only trying to be nice.

I think I'm going to go to him or even human resources and ask where in print this rule is.. at the hotel all the new rules are posted as memos and we have to sign them to confirm we've read and understand it. I've never signed any memos about not being allowed to accept tips.

Ugh, he's such a jackass.
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I wonder if this have anything to do with the fact that they can't tax tips as "Gift Tax" which is 40% here in America. I'm not quite sure how it operates on the top floor Femme, but if you guys have "Gift Tax,'' like for Lottery Tickets and Casino winnings and what not, this may fall into that realm, which would be total bogus.
 
No, I don't think this would be like that - it would fall under whatever policies are in place for gratuities. But we don't have a gift tax in Canada - well, at least not in Ontario.
 
KennedyKiller said:
Fair enough...I don't think gift tax is really fair anyway. I mean it's a GIFT...
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But the gift tax is only for large amounts? I understand that there is such a tax for large amounts of money but I think 40% is stupid high. But not for small amounts? You don't have to pay 40 cents in tax if I give you 1 dollar? Lol
 
Romero said:
But the gift tax is only for large amounts? I understand that there is such a tax for large amounts of money but I think 40% is stupid high. But not for small amounts? You don't have to pay 40 cents in tax if I give you 1 dollar? Lol
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Well gift tax starts at $100. And actually, if you give somebody a car for free, they automatically pay a minimum of $200 in gift tax.
 
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