Are hospitality workers to be paid all tips?

Acting on evidence of poor tipping practices, the government has proposed legislation making it mandatory that any tips left in good faith to reward good service are paid directly to workers. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill had initially been referred to in the Queen’s Speech on 14 October 2019.

Recently, Dean Russell MP has sponsored a private members’ bill – dubbed ‘the Tips Bill’ – which would prohibit employers from retaining tips intended for staff and make provision about the division of tips between staff.

It’s understood that the wider proposal will form part of the Employment Bill referenced during the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019 which will be considered again, at the earliest, in 2022. See ‘Extended Protection and Rights for Employees’.