Britain's restaurants are creaming off millions of pounds of customers' tips to boost their profits, an investigation by The Independent has found. A series of legal ploys are being used by major companies including Strada, PizzaExpress and Carluccio's to take a slice of the £4bn a year that diners leave for low-paid staff in tips. Today, The Independent launches a campaign toimprove the treatment of the country's 231,845 waiters and waitresses - and ensure that customers know where their money is going when they leave a tip. Most restaurant customers believe staff receive the tips or service charge as a reward for good service. But our investigation has discovered that tips left by diners are being regularly used to pay basic wages, or meet costs. Among the practices, TheIndependent found:
Britain's restaurants are creaming off millions of pounds of customers' tips to boost their profits, an investigation by The Independent has found.
A series of legal ploys are being used by major companies including Strada, PizzaExpress and Carluccio's to take a slice of the £4bn a year that diners leave for low-paid staff in tips.
Today, The Independent launches a campaign toimprove the treatment of the country's 231,845 waiters and waitresses - and ensure that customers know where their money is going when they leave a tip.
Most restaurant customers believe staff receive the tips or service charge as a reward for good service. But our investigation has discovered that tips left by diners are being regularly used to pay basic wages, or meet costs.
Among the practices, TheIndependent found:
Even if I pay by card, I always tip in cash. In fact, I often decline to pay the service charge, while leaving an equivalent cash tip. I'm sure restaurant managers hate this practice, but I've never known a waiter to argue...
