Tip Pooling - Tip Sharing
Common Violations
- The employer participates in the tip pool (i.e. the employer keeps some of the tips)
- You must share tips with: kitchen workers (i.e. kitchen chefs, cooks, salad preps, line guys, dishwashers, pastry chefs, etc.)
- You must share tips with managers
- You must share tips with cleaning crews, cashiers, valets, or other employees who do not have direct customer interaction
- You must share tips with House moms and DJs
- You must share tips with bouncers and security guards
Failure to Give Notice
Your employer must explain that they will take a tip credit against their wage obligations.
These types of tip pool violations are commonly found in bars, restaurants, strip clubs, hotels, and casinos. For instance, a dealer who receives tips (or tokes) from a customer should not be required to share those tips with floor supervisors, the ‘cage,’ or other employees who do not have direct customer interaction. Similarly, exotic dancers should not be required to pay a house fee to dance at the club or share their tips with managers, DJs, the ‘house mom,’ etc.