11 minute read
A little extra on the side
T tips T tips A little extra on the side A little extra on the side
Seaview House Hotel & Bath House
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To tip or not to tip, that is the question. Tipping, or giving gratuities, is To tip or not to tip, that is the question. Tipping, or giving gratuities, is an almost natural thing to do in restaurants, bars and hotels in places an almost natural thing to do in restaurants, bars and hotels in places like the USA and mainland Europe, but traditionally it has been somewhat like the USA and mainland Europe, but traditionally it has been somewhat less common here in Ireland over the years, writes Niamh Hayesless common here in Ireland over the years, writes Niamh Hayes
THE THE culture of tipping has hit culture of tipping has hit pocket tips are going in, are we still pocket tips are going in, are we still If it doesn’t, the employer must make If it doesn’t, the employer must make headlines in recent months as it headlines in recent months as it willing to give them here in Ireland? willing to give them here in Ireland? up the diff erence. Does that mean that up the diff erence. Does that mean that has come to light that Ireland has has come to light that Ireland has In an online survey conducted by In an online survey conducted by in establishments where customers in establishments where customers a problem with the ownership of a problem with the ownership of The Southern Star, readers were asked The Southern Star, readers were asked are good at giving tips, employers get are good at giving tips, employers get tips. Do the employers who run the tips. Do the employers who run the to give their opinions on the tipping to give their opinions on the tipping away with paying very little wages as away with paying very little wages as establishments or the employees who establishments or the employees who culture. When asked if they give tips culture. When asked if they give tips the customers make up the shortfall? the customers make up the shortfall? receive the tips from the customers in restaurants and hotels, all of those 4**** Manor House Hotel- Ideal for Small Intimate Weddings, receive the tips from the customers in restaurants and hotels, all of those It certainly looks that way. However, It certainly looks that way. However, own them? The Government is looking who responded said that they do tip or Special Events, Private Dining and Afternoon Tea. own them? The Government is looking who responded said that they do tip or workers need not worry about this workers need not worry about this at addressing this problem by changing at addressing this problem by changing usually tip. usually tip. happening here in Ireland if the new happening here in Ireland if the new et within the law to protect those working in four acres of beautifully manicured and matuthe law to protect those working in When asked how much they give, the re gardens set When asked how much they give, the legislation comes into eff ect, as there legislation comes into eff ect, as there the service industries where tips are majority said they usually give between back from the Sea. Seaview House Hotel is West Cork’s finest multi the service industries where tips are majority said they usually give between will be a protection against it. will be a protection against it. given and, on Monday, July 8th Regina 10 and 15 percent of their bill amount. ward winning Country Manor Escape. This is a perfect location for given and, on Monday, July 8 Regina 10 and 15 percent of their bill amount. Doherty, Minister for Employment Others suggested more ‘set’ amounts overing some of the worlds most spectacular scenery along the Wild Doherty, Minister for Employment Others suggested more ‘set’ amounts , Co. Cork. | Aff airs and Social Protection received Government approval on a draft Heads Tel: 027 50073 Atlantic Way. Aff airs and Social Protection received Government approval on a draft Heads of between €3 and €10. Cash is the preferred method of of between €3 and €10. Cash is the preferred method of of a Bill which will regulate practices around tips and gratuities. The Heads of payment of tips, and when asked if tips should go directly to the employees, .seaviewhousehotel.com | info@seaviewhousehotel.com elax after your exploring in our Award Winning Restaurant, which prides itself on its excellent seafood and locally sourced produce. Our of a Bill which will regulate practices around tips and gratuities. The Heads of payment of tips, and when asked if tips should go directly to the employees, Bill set out how the Minister intends: again everyone had the same response. newly opened Seaweed Bath House will also help you relax and Bill set out how the Minister intends: again everyone had the same response. • To amend the Payment of Wages • To amend the Payment of Wages They all agreed that tips should be They all agreed that tips should be Act to ensure that tips and gratuities Act to ensure that tips and gratuities given to the workers rather than the given to the workers rather than the cannot be used to ‘make-up’ or satisfy cannot be used to ‘make-up’ or satisfy employers, with one respondent saying employers, with one respondent saying a person’s contractual wages; and a person’s contractual wages; and that the tips ‘should be shared between that the tips ‘should be shared between • To provide for a requirement on • To provide for a requirement on front of house and kitchen staff ’. front of house and kitchen staff ’. employers to clearly display, for the employers to clearly display, for the Finally, readers were asked if tips Finally, readers were asked if tips benefi t of workers and customers, benefi t of workers and customers, should be subject to standard income should be subject to standard income their policy on how tips, gratuities their policy on how tips, gratuities tax laws. The majority said that tips tax laws. The majority said that tips and service charges are distributed. and service charges are distributed. should be exempt from tax, with just should be exempt from tax, with just Speaking on the issue, the Minister Speaking on the issue, the Minister one respondent saying they should be one respondent saying they should be said: ‘It has become clear over the past said: ‘It has become clear over the past subject to income tax laws. subject to income tax laws. number of months that in a minority number of months that in a minority Sounds like good news for service Sounds like good news for service of establishments, workers are not of establishments, workers are not staff , with the majority in favour of staff , with the majority in favour of being treated fairly with regard to tips. being treated fairly with regard to tips. giving tips. However, one must look at giving tips. However, one must look at As I said previously, I will not tolerate As I said previously, I will not tolerate the other side of the coin too. the other side of the coin too. this on my watch and now, having this on my watch and now, having In the USA, the tipping culture In the USA, the tipping culture received approval from Government, I received approval from Government, I makes doing certain things more makes doing certain things more look forward to introducing measures look forward to introducing measures expensive for customers. Not only are expensive for customers. Not only are which will improve the situation and, which will improve the situation and, you supposed to tip in restaurants, you supposed to tip in restaurants, crucially, have a sound legal basis. I crucially, have a sound legal basis. I bars and hotels, you are also expected bars and hotels, you are also expected am determined to always stand up for am determined to always stand up for to give a gratuity when you are getting to give a gratuity when you are getting fairness and the employment rights of fairness and the employment rights of your hair or nails done, when someone your hair or nails done, when someone low paid and precarious workers.’ low paid and precarious workers.’ packs your groceries away in the packs your groceries away in the Under the proposed changes, Under the proposed changes, supermarket, or when someone parks supermarket, or when someone parks employers would no longer be allowed employers would no longer be allowed your car. All of these people are getting your car. All of these people are getting to use tips to bring their employees’ pay to use tips to bring their employees’ pay paid to do their jobs anyway, but rely paid to do their jobs anyway, but rely into line with their contractual wage. into line with their contractual wage. on tips and gratuities to make up the on tips and gratuities to make up the Currently in some establishments, Currently in some establishments, shortfall in their wages or to make a shortfall in their wages or to make a albeit a minority of them, service staff albeit a minority of them, service staff little extra income. little extra income. are receiving less than their contracted are receiving less than their contracted At present the federal minimum At present the federal minimum wage from their employer, on the basis wage from their employer, on the basis wage in the USA is $7.25 per hour but wage in the USA is $7.25 per hour but that their pay is supplemented by tips that their pay is supplemented by tips each individual state can declare its each individual state can declare its from customers. from customers. own minimum wage, which is either own minimum wage, which is either But what if the customers don’t give But what if the customers don’t give the same as, or more than, the federal the same as, or more than, the federal tips on any given day? Well the service tips on any given day? Well the service rate. However, an employer of a tipped rate. However, an employer of a tipped staff could be going home with less staff could be going home with less employee is only required to pay $2.13 employee is only required to pay $2.13 than what it states in their contract. than what it states in their contract. per hour in direct wages if that amount per hour in direct wages if that amount The new legislation would protect The new legislation would protect combined with tips at least combined with tips at least against this. against this. equals the federal equals the federal So, with the uncertainty of whose So, with the uncertainty of whose minimum wage. minimum wage. So, while It is unlikely that the tipping So, while It is unlikely that the tipping culture here will turn as extreme as culture here will turn as extreme as the USA or mainland Europe any the USA or mainland Europe any time soon, if you are provided with a time soon, if you are provided with a service, and if the person providing service, and if the person providing you with that service does a good job, you with that service does a good job, and if you can aff ord it, it might be and if you can aff ord it, it might be nice to show your appreciation to that nice to show your appreciation to that person by giving them a tip. person by giving them a tip.
An Chistin BeagOpen Mon-Thurs 9.30-5.30pm Fri-Sat 9.30-9pm Closed Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays Open Mon-Thurs 9.30-5.30pm Fri-Sat 9.30-9pm Closed Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays Fine Food Home Cooked Locally Produced
“homecooked locally produced food” “homecooked locally produced food”
46 Bridge Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork | 028-22019 46 Bridge Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork | 028-22019
Serving Breakfast Lunch & Dinner
Open
Tue, Wed & Thur 9:30am - 5pm Fri & Sat 9:30am - 9pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
Deasy’s Harbour Bar & Seafood Restaurant
Ring Village, Clonakilty Open for DINNER Tel: 023 8835741 Wed-Sat 6pm - 9.30pm. Early Bird Menu available. Serving LIGHT LUNCHES daily
Opening Hours:
Open for Dinner Wednesday - Saturday 6pm - 9.30pm Open for DINNER
OPENING HOURS Dinner Served Wed - Sat 6.00-9.30 Early Bird Menu available Serving Light Lunches Wednesday - Saturday 12.30pm - 3pm Sunday lunch 1pm - 3pm Wed-Sat 6pm - 9.30pm. Early Bird Menu available. Serving LIGHT LUNCHES daily SUNDAY LUNCHES 1pm - 3pm RING, CLONAKILTY, WEST CORK Early BirdFor Bookings Call 023 8835741 6.00-6.45 Sunday Lunch 1.00-3.00 Light Lunches served Wed-Sat 12.30-3.00
Berehaven Lodge Restaurant Waterfall, Castletownbere, Co.Cork. Stunning Seaview Deck
Open 7 days Lunch 12-5pm, Dinner from 5pm Open Fire Cooking or Braai every Friday from 12pm Phone 027-71306 to reserve
Choose from a range of Wholesome Meals, Homemade Cakes and Desserts or Coffees & Teas
