Jersey restaurant included in TGI "tip robbing" allegations

Monday 05 March 2018

TGI Fridays have hit back at allegations that they are “robbing” waiting staff of tips with a controversial new policy hitting more than 40 locations, including the Jersey restaurant.

Under a new rule introduced last month, waiters will see 40% of their gratuities distributed to the kitchen team.

According to the UK’s largest union, Unite, the move was brought forward without consultation and could place many staff into a position of financial hardship.

They said that staff were given only two days’ notice of the plans, which were originally to be introduced in January 8 this year, but later postponed to 19 February following what Unite described as a “huge backlash.”

Union members also alleged that the new policy had been implemented for tax reasons and so that the chain could avoid increasing kitchen staff’s wages, but this was denied by TGI Fridays officials.

Shareholders must put a stop to TGI Fridays ‘tip robbing’ policy https://t.co/z7uk30D6rp #fairtips pic.twitter.com/we2D6zqUXy

— Unite the union (@unitetheunion) February 28, 2018

Stating that the company was risking “serious damage to its family friendly reputation”, Unite regional officer Dave Turnbull urged shareholders and investors of Electra – a private equity firm with a 78% stake in the restaurant chain – to lobby CEO Karen Forrester.

The union delivered a letter to all Electra shareholders during the firm’s AGM last Thursday.

Mr Turnbull explained: “We have been shocked at the way the company has tried to bulldoze this controversial policy change through without any proper and meaningful consultation with its loyal and hardworking workforce. Our offer of involving a senior ACAS conciliator to help resolve the issue was rejected by the company.

“TGI waiters, or dub dubs as they’re known, are paid the government’s national living wage of just £7.50 an hour (if they’re over 25). It’s not enough to live on. They are heavily reliant on tips to make ends meet, and with around 80 per cent of tips now left on debit or credit cards, the company’s decision to take 40 per cent of their card tips, effectively overnight, will leave them seriously out of pocket.”

Pictured: The Jersey branch of TGI Fridays is based at the Waterfront. (Google Maps)

But TGI have staunchly defended the move, which they say was done “in the interest of fairness.”

A company spokesperson, who confirmed that the Jersey branch was also affected, told Express: “Team members keep 100% of tips received at Fridays. Since 19th February, 40% of tips paid by card go to the kitchen teams. This was done… to ensure that all team members who have helped earn the tips receive a share of them. The changes were made after discussions with team members and research into industry norms. Servers continue to keep 100% of the cash tips they are given.

“The change in allocation of tips has nothing whatsoever to do with pay increases.”