Birmingham bar worker welcomes new tipping law change as he says 'a lot of places are quite seedy'

Hospitality worker Viktor Fothergill has welcomed new laws to help staff retain tips.
-Credit: (Image: Handout)


A Birmingham hospitality worker has welcomed new laws to ensure workers keep all of their hard-earned tips saying it would help crackdown on 'seedy' businesses that withold tips from staff. Viktor Fothergill, a supervisor at Birmingham wine bar Vagabond, told how in former roles he had been promised tips from managers which he never received - and that new legislation would give workers more 'peace of mind'.

Viktor said Vagabond currently used a 'tronc scheme' - a special pay arrangement that lets businesses fairly share pooled tips - but that other employers in the past had 'withheld' tips from him.

The new laws, which came into force today (October 1), make it unlawful for businesses to hold back service charges from their employees - ensuring workers keep 100% of the money they earn through tips. If an employer breaks the law and retains tips, a worker will be able to bring a claim to an employment tribunal, the government said.

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The overhaul is set to benefit more than 2 million UK workers across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors, many of whom rely on tips to top up their pay. The move has been welcomed by workers and many hospitality bosses, but concerns have been raised that some businesses may hike prices to recoup costs related to the new legislation.

Viktor Fothergill, a hospitality worker in Birmingham city centre, has welcomed the new legislation saying it gives employees more 'peace of mind'. He said: "I know that at a lot of places, managers will pocket most of the tips, even when they earn considerably more than their workers.

"It's good they've put something in place because staff on the ground are the ones who are doing the brunt of the manual labour. It gives people the peace of mind that if they go above and beyond in their service, they'll be compensated for it."

The new laws apply across all industries, but is expected to benefit those working in restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and other hospitality venues.
The new laws apply across all industries, but is expected to benefit those working in restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and other hospitality venues. -Credit:Manchester Evening News

According to the government, most employers already pass on tips to the staff who earn them - however, these laws will crack down on the 'minority' of businesses who continue to retain tips.

He added: "There have been cases in the past were I've been told my tips were waiting for me, and then I never see them. A lot of places are quite seedy with tips - they're not always split evenly."

Under the new law, all tips must be passed to employees by the end of the following month from when they were received. The move has been welcomed by hospitality bosses.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: The people working in hospitality are the lifeblood of our sector and these changes rightly ensure tips hard-earned through excellent service will end up entirely in their pockets. We completely support the changes coming into effect today, which will formalise what is already commonplace in the sector as businesses have been preparing for this legislation for a number of years."

If someone is concerned that they’re not being paid the correct wage, they should speak to their employer. If the problem is not resolved, they can contact Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) by phoning 0300 123 1122.