Restaurant Tip Out Policy

Effective Date:

Contact: [YOUR COMPANY EMAIL]

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Tip Out Policy is to create a fair and transparent process for distributing tips among restaurant staff, thereby fostering a collaborative and rewarding work environment. This policy ensures that all employees who contribute to the guest experience are recognized and compensated appropriately. By implementing this policy, [Your Company Name] aims to:

Promote a culture of teamwork and cooperation among all employees.
Ensure that tips are distributed in a manner that reflects the contributions of each team member.
Maintain transparency in the handling and distribution of tips to build trust and morale among staff.
Comply with relevant labor laws and regulations regarding tip distribution and reporting.

Tips play a crucial role in the overall compensation of restaurant employees, particularly for those in service roles. Recognizing and fairly distributing these tips is essential for maintaining a motivated and satisfied workforce. This policy is designed to create a structured and equitable system for tip distribution that rewards all employees who contribute to the guest experience, whether directly or indirectly.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all employees of [Your Company Name], including servers, bartenders, bussers, and kitchen staff, who directly or indirectly contribute to the guest experience. Specifically, the following categories of employees are covered under this policy:

Servers: Employees who take orders and serve food and beverages to guests.
Bartenders: Employees who prepare and serve drinks, as well as interact with guests at the bar.
Bussers: Employees who assist with clearing tables, resetting dining areas, and maintaining cleanliness.
Runners: Employees who deliver food and beverages from the kitchen to the guests.
Kitchen Staff: Employees who prepare food, including chefs, cooks, and dishwashers.

This policy applies to all employees regardless of their employment status, including full-time, part-time, and temporary staff. It is important that all employees understand and adhere to this policy to ensure a fair and harmonious working environment.

3. Definitions

To ensure clarity and understanding, the following definitions apply to terms used in this policy:

Tip Pool: The total amount of tips collected within a designated period, typically a shift or a day, which is then distributed among eligible employees.
Tip Out: The distribution of a portion of received tips to support staff who do not directly receive tips from guests.
Support Staff: Employees who assist in providing service but do not directly receive tips from guests. This includes bussers, runners, and kitchen staff.
Shift: The duration of time an employee is scheduled to work, typically ranging from a few hours to a full day.
Pay Period: The regular interval at which employees are paid, usually bi-weekly or monthly.

These definitions are intended to provide a common understanding of the terms used in this policy and to ensure consistent application across all employees and shifts.

4. Tip Pooling Guidelines

To promote fairness and transparency, [Your Company Name] requires that all servers and bartenders contribute a percentage of their tips to the tip pool. The contribution rates are as follows:

Servers: 5% of total tips received during their shift.
Bartenders: 10% of total tips received during their shift.

These contributions are based on the gross tips received, whether from credit card transactions or cash payments. By pooling tips, [Your Company Name] ensures that support staff who contribute to the overall guest experience are also rewarded.

Example Contribution Calculation

If a server receives $200 in tips during a shift, they would contribute: 200×0.05=$10
If a bartender receives $300 in tips during a shift, they would contribute: 300×0.10=$30

These contributions are then added to the tip pool for distribution among support staff.

5. Distribution of Tip Pool

The tip pool will be distributed among support staff based on predetermined percentages. This distribution reflects the varying levels of contribution to the guest experience by different roles. The distribution is as follows:

Bussers: 40% of the tip pool
Runners: 30% of the tip pool
Kitchen Staff: 30% of the tip pool

The following table illustrates the distribution of a tip pool of $500:

Role	Percentage of Tip Pool	Amount Distributed
Bussers	40%	$200
Runners	30%	$150
Kitchen Staff	30%	$150

This distribution ensures that all support staff receive a fair share of the tips, commensurate with their contributions to the guest experience. These percentages are subject to review and adjustment by management as necessary to ensure fairness and compliance with relevant labor laws.

Rationale for Distribution

Bussers (40%): Bussers play a critical role in maintaining the cleanliness and readiness of the dining area, which directly impacts the guest experience.
Runners (30%): Runners are responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of food and beverages, ensuring that guests receive their orders promptly and correctly.
Kitchen Staff (30%): Kitchen staff are essential for preparing high-quality meals, contributing significantly to the overall guest satisfaction.

By distributing tips according to these percentages, [Your Company Name] acknowledges the important contributions of each role and ensures that all team members are rewarded fairly.

6. Reporting and Documentation

To ensure accuracy and accountability in the tip pooling process, all employees must adhere to the following reporting and documentation guidelines:

End-of-Shift Reporting: At the end of each shift, all servers and bartenders are required to report their total tips received. This includes both cash and credit card tips.
Designated Reporting Method: Employees must use the designated method for tip reporting, which may include completing a tip report form or entering tips into the point-of-sale (POS) system. The POS system will automatically calculate the contribution to the tip pool based on the reported tips.
Accuracy and Timeliness: It is crucial that all tips are reported accurately and promptly. Inaccurate or late reporting can result in discrepancies in the tip pool and unfair distribution to support staff.
Supervisor Verification: Supervisors will verify the reported tips to ensure compliance with the policy. Any discrepancies or issues identified will be addressed immediately.

Accurate reporting is essential for maintaining fairness and transparency in the tip pooling process. Employees who fail to report tips accurately or attempt to manipulate the reporting process will face disciplinary action.

Tip Report Form

Date	Employee Name	Role	Total Tips Received	Tip Pool Contribution	Supervisor Signature
01/01/2050	[Name]	Server	$200	$10	[Signature]
01/01/2050	[Name]	Bartender	$300	$30	[Signature]

This form must be completed and submitted by the end of each shift. Supervisors will review and sign off on the form to confirm accuracy and compliance.

7. Tip Disbursement

Tips will be disbursed to support staff at the end of each pay period. The disbursement process is designed to ensure that all eligible employees receive their fair share of the tips collected. The following steps outline the disbursement process:

Calculation of Tip Amounts: At the end of each pay period, the total tips collected in the tip pool will be calculated. The contribution amounts from servers and bartenders, as well as the total amount to be distributed to support staff, will be determined.
Distribution Percentages: Tips will be distributed based on the established distribution percentages (bussers: 40%, runners: 30%, kitchen staff: 30%).
Direct Deposit: Employees will receive their tips through direct deposit, along with their regular paycheck. This ensures that all employees are paid promptly and securely.
Pay Stub Documentation: The tip amounts will be itemized on each employee's pay stub, providing transparency and clarity regarding the tips received.

Example Tip Disbursement Calculation

If the total tip pool for a pay period is $1,000, the distribution would be as follows:

Role	Percentage of Tip Pool	Amount Distributed
Bussers	40%	$400
Runners	30%	$300
Kitchen Staff	30%	$300

Employees will see the distributed tip amounts on their pay stubs, ensuring transparency in the disbursement process. This also helps employees verify that they have received the correct tip amounts.

8. Compliance and Enforcement

All employees are expected to comply with this Tip Out Policy to maintain a fair and transparent working environment. Compliance with the policy ensures that all staff members are treated equitably and that the tip distribution process is conducted with integrity. The following measures will be enforced to ensure compliance:

Monitoring and Audits: Regular audits will be conducted to verify the accuracy of tip reporting and distribution. This helps to identify and address any discrepancies or issues promptly.
Disciplinary Actions: Employees who fail to comply with the policy or attempt to circumvent the tip-out process will face disciplinary action. This can include warnings, suspension, or termination, depending on the severity of the non-compliance.
Examples of Non-Compliance: Non-compliance includes, but is not limited to, failing to report tips accurately, withholding tips from the tip pool, or manipulating tip amounts. Any such actions will be thoroughly investigated and addressed.
Employee Training: Regular training sessions will be conducted to ensure that all employees understand the policy and their responsibilities. This includes training on how to report tips accurately and the importance of adhering to the policy.

By enforcing these measures, [Your Company Name] aims to maintain the integrity of the tip-out process and ensure that all employees are treated fairly.

9. Review and Amendments

This policy will be reviewed annually and amended as necessary to ensure fairness and compliance with relevant labor laws. The review process will be conducted by the management team. Employees will be informed of any changes to the policy through official communications. The following steps outline the review and amendment process:

Annual Review: The management team will conduct a comprehensive review of the policy each year. This review will consider feedback from employees, changes in labor laws, and any issues or discrepancies identified during the year.
Employee Feedback: Employees are encouraged to provide feedback on the policy at any time. Feedback can be submitted anonymously through a suggestion box or directly to a supervisor or manager.
Amendment Process: If amendments are necessary, the management team will draft proposed changes and present them to senior management for approval. Once approved, the changes will be communicated to all employees.
Communication of Changes: Any changes to the policy will be communicated to employees through official channels, such as email, staff meetings, or posted notices. Employees will be given sufficient notice of any changes and provided with an updated copy of the policy.

10. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact:

Email: [YOUR COMPANY EMAIL]

Phone: [YOUR COMPANY NUMBER]

Mailing Address: [YOUR COMPANY ADDRESS]

Employees are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have regarding the tip-out process or their individual tip distributions. Open communication is vital to maintaining trust and transparency within the team.

Thank you for your commitment to providing excellent service and for contributing to a positive work environment.