What Changes to UK Tipping Laws Mean for the Hospitality Industry

When you think of tipping, you might consider it something of an American trait. After all, in the States, the act of tipping is a serious business — in fact, it makes up a waiter or waitress’ livelihood. But in the UK, a tip has always been seen as an act of generosity rather than necessity; our serving staff are given a minimum wage, after all, so a tip is often deemed as a reward for notably good service, rather than a given. But with rent costs what they are, minimum wage often just covers the roof over our heads. For food and other necessities, waiters are relying more and more on their tips, echoing the situation of many US waiters. 

Between this and the sheer fact that consumers in the UK see tips as rewards for the waiter directly, the problem of restaurants taking a cut of staff tips has boiled to the surface. Following the reaction of the public when it was revealed that some firms were taking around 10 percent of card-based tips, Prime Minister Theresa May has…