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The
dining public have been shocked over recent weeks about accepted
practice with the usage of tips given in the hospitality industry.
The problems were highlighted by The Independent who mentioned top
groups as being less than forthright about tips.
Problems ranged from restaurant
owners not passing tips on at all, through allowing a percentage of
tips to actually using tips to bring hourly rates up to minimum wage
to allow a lower basic.
Groups included Tootsies, Real
Greek, Strada, Café Rouge, Caffe Uno, Zizzi, Ask, Spaghetti
House, Chquito, Est Bar Est and even Loch Fyne.
HISTORY
In 1652 Pasqua Rosee opened the
first public coffee house in St Michael's Alley, Cornhill, London.
Such was the success of the venture that London boasted 63 coffee
houses within a year and the practice of "tipping" came
into play.
The word "tip" comes
from an of sixteenth century word meaning 'to give unexpectedly'.
Tipping became a practice in the busy coffee houses where regulars
would often put money in a box to ensure specialist and prompt service.
360 years later tips are still
common in most restaurants but less so than in previous years. Much
of this has been because customers often doubt that the 'tip' will
get to the waiter or waitress that they feel should be rewarded for
exemplary attention. They want the tip to go to that person, not be
shared around the entire waiting staff or shared with the owners or
even retained by the owners entirely.
Such has been to furore that the
Government have had to take a hand. Ministers are using the 10th
anniversary of the National Minimum Wage Act to announce they will
make it illegal for restaurants to deny staff the minimum wage on the
grounds that tips or service charges take them over the £5.52p
an hour rate. The move was discussed in private talks with trade
unions and Labour grassroots representatives to draw up ideas for the
party's next election manifesto. We are told it will be implemented
as soon as the Government can push the necessary regulations through
parliament, probably in a matter of months.
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