GIVE TIPS TO STAFF NOT BOSSES!

“We are supporting a new law which requires all employers to pass on tips to workers, without any deductions. With 80% of all tips now being paid for by cashless payment, a form of tipping which is currently not legally required to be passed onto staff, these sensible regulations are now more urgent than ever.”

Newbury Town Councillor, Vaughan Miller, brought this matter to the attention of the Council on Monday 31 January. He got the unanimous support of the Council for this section of the upcoming Employment Bill, which would make this a legal requirement.

He said, “The Bill would make it a legal requirement for employers to pass on all tips and service charge payments to workers without any deductions, a compulsory Statutory Code of Practice ensuring tip fairness and transparency, and a right for workers to make a request for information relating to an employer’s tipping record. Ultimately, if passed, this legislation would mean that employers who break these rules could be taken to an employment tribunal and face fines or be forced to compensate those workers effected. These are fair and reasonable policies that the Council supports.

The Unite Union has estimated that the delay in passing this legislation since action was first proposed five years ago, in 2016, has cost each wait staff an estimated £10,000 in lost tip income.                                                                                     

Many of these workers are low paid and depend on tips and gratuities to make ends meet. Many of us are happy to leave a tip for staff who deserve it, and we want to see them receive it, rather than their employers, and calls on all local restaurants and pubs serving food to apply this principle immediately.”

The Town Council has now written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, to request that this legislation be brought forward as soon as possible. The Town Council will also seek the support of the District Council for this important legislation.

Contact:

Cllr Martin Colston, Leader of the Council martin.colston@newbury.gov.uk 01635 36591

Photo: Cllr Vaughan Miller, Town Councillor Vaughan.miller@newbury.gov.uk 07810 543425