Big discussion on this one in our office !!!

Tax wise......................yes tips are tax deducatable, it is a legal requirement. Please rememeber that the HMRC although generally slow............will realise that something is amiss if you operate a PAYE system for a service such as beauty and hair and No tips go through !

Is it fair.......................................to be honest probably NO...................................Is it reasonable............................probably yes, according to the duties that the receptionist is performing for you. Is she polite, have a great telephone manner, does she have networking contacts, does she proivide your clients with tea, magazines, make sure that they are comfortable if they are waiting for you , is she taking future booking, pining clients down !, does she follow up and make sure that the clients remember appointments and makes sure that they re book if they cancel !!!! A good receptionist is a god send to a salon.

Personally I would do as pink orange suggest and find out exactly how much of a % the receptionist will get from the card tips and see if there is any negotiating to be done.

Unfair. PERIOD.
The receptionist is NOT doing the same work that you are doing, NOR does she have the required skills and schooling to do what you are doing. Her level of 'customer service' is not near what yours as a tech or hairdresser would be as her direct involvement with clients if minimal in comparison.

If clients are expected to tip receptionists, then why aren't receptionists tipped at offices??? Reception is NOT AT ALL like hairdressing, or waitressing or esthetics.

Here in Quebec/Canada; hairdressers/waitresses/gas station attendant/pizza delivery etc, and other similar positions have a lower 'minimum wage' stipulated by government because they are expected to add to that wage with their tips. Their performance with the client directly affecting those tips. Poor performance, poor tips.
Here, the owner may NOT touch your tips or decide how they are handled. They go directly to you UNLESS the client pays the tip by credit card or debit card, then it goes on YOUR paycheque and is NOT divvied with anyone else.

Receptionists, however, have a higher rate of minimum wage because they are NOT expected to get tips. Reception is generally NOT considered a 'customer service' type of position.

HOWEVER if you were expected to share your tips with your assistant who cleaned up the hair from the floor, washed the client's hair, handed you rollers for the permanent, etc..... That would be different.

Are there not labour laws of some kind where you are that protect you for that sort of thing?
Can you not put a 'tip jar' at your work station?

best of luck

This is a great idea that Victoria has suggested
also try wearing a uniform with pockets as most happy clients will usually pop it in there too x minky

My god i'd be furious if i were you!!! Thats so unfair and typical of the receptionist to think of the idea since it benifits her and im pretty sure the clients will be furious to find out where their tips for the hairdresser or therapist whos service they were pleased with were going. As for your manager she clearly does things by the book. Why not suggest when you go back in to have tips boxes with all your names on including the receptionist so if they feel the receptionist has done a good enough job fitting them in and chatting with them while they're waiting they will. I wouldn't be able to not tell the client who is tipping me where there money is really going and that i wasn't getting all of it. Grrr really makes me mad when people take the piss out of their staff like that

well im not sure how the law stands on this but i would of thought she has no legal right to take part of your tips from you a tip is a gift from your client directly to you meaning it is lawfully your money god she may as well go in your purse and take some of your money because this is what she is doing by taking part of you tips! i would definatly not stand for this! it is most unfair and as someone mentiond before im sure your clients would be most anoyed to know the tip they were giving you was being halfed with the receptionist.
no disrespect to the receptionist but its the therapist that puts in the hard graft and extra effort to ensure the client is happy and this is why they are rewarded with a tip! unfortunatly yes tips are taxable! xx

I think that's a really good point - a gift is a gift! all my therapists keep their own tips, I certainly would never take money a client had intended for the therapist treating them - as you say - it is a gift is it not?

I like the idea of a tip jar for the receptionist - perhaps even as a trial period. See who actually tips the receptionist over a month preiod!! If there is nothing in the jar, then perhaps she needs to up her level of customer service...if there IS something in the jar..keep the jar!
I really think it should be up to the clients to decide who to tip, and how much.
When I was in salon, if I'd had a particularly good day/week for tips, I'd buy biscuits/cream cake etc for me and my receptionist. (Of course it helps that she's now my best friend and we could do this sort of thing) She never got tips because she didn't have a jar, and she never complained!! I think it's important to make ALL members of staff feel equally valued, but this doesn't necessarily mean all of them being eligible for tips.