Hi, my question is related to myself as a therapist. I work in a salon where up until today we have been allowed to keep our tips for ourselves. Cash goes in an envelope by til which we can collect when we want it or tips on card are written down and put in our envelope- at the end of month manager tallies up the amount and puts in on wage which then gets taxed but ive still been getting about £50. We have just got a new receptionist and manager decides today her bright idea is for myself and other therapist plus hairdresser to split our card tips with the receptionist so she has some as due to her being an 'integral'part of the team she feels this is fair!!? Now, dont get me wrong im all for fairness and team work etc etc but until now we havent even been splitting them between us who are working therapist.hairdresser and now it feels like we are expected to work are ass's off to donate a share of what is 'our own personal money' to the receptionist when she isn't putting anythin ginto the pot?? Manager replied to my unhappiness on subject by saying clients are paying for 'service' as a whole not just us- but I feel this isn't true as sometimes clients dont have cash so add it onto their card payment but its meant for us. If 2 therapists have worked on them or therapist/hairdresser i dont mind splitting but receptionist? Surely she knows doing her career its not one where you typically get tips? I feel like manager thinks im being selfish as other therapist wont speak up! Its also because this hasn't been a rule since day one so unfair to implement now? What do you all think?

I think it's unfair too.
The clients are tipping you for the service you gave them.
I own a salon and when i'm on reception clients specifically say 'can you give this to Tina/Louise please'.
I don't think your clients would be best pleased if they thought their tips were not going where they thought they were going.
Your boss should explain to the receptionist that this is the case in most salons.
If i was you, i'd be annoyed!

The client is tipping YOU as a thank you for the perfect service you gave her/him and I dont think you should share it with the receptionist, other therapist or hairdresser.
xx

I didn't realise that tips were taxable!
When I give a tip it's to the therapist/stylist/tech, it's not for anyone else. As a client I would be jolly cross to discover that it's going to someone else, and I would be having a word with the manager to register my disapproval, and to ensure that the tip goes to the therapist concerned.

hi ive just opened a salon and my hairdresser keeps tips on the day..

i wouldnt tax her tips as i dont think thats fair plus didnt think anyone did tbh.

As regards the taxing of tips, it's true that they are taxable, or at least they were when I last spoke to the tax office. As such irrespective of fairness it is indeed a legal obligation to declare them - I believe it's the same with 'gifts'.

HMRC are clever, they use the data from all the tax returns and work out as a percentage how much money each type of business makes in tips, credit card vs cheques and cash etc. When your time comes for a tax inspection they will expect your figures to be similar to their expectations.

Therefore, I think the salon owner is being very responsible declairing his/her staffs tip money to the tax man.

However I'm not sure it's fair giving other peoples tips to the receptionist. The tip money isn't being used to make her money up is it?

Jes

Hi, I totally agree you should not have to share your tips with the receptionist. I personally have always collected my tips for that day and if I had a junior helping me I would give them something depending on amount, but that has always been my choice and I believe that it should be yours too. If I was in your situation I would ask on the % split that each of you get before I voiced my complaints again! I would then neg that % down for the receptionist! ask how that % is worked out? Time spent with client? Divided by the no of people?

The other thing I was thinking, why do you need a receptionist for only 3 professionals? In salons I have worked in the junior or one of us would cover reception between us. I understand that it is required in salons of size, professional image ect. Maybe a more experianced geek could give their opinion?

Hope you sort this out, good luck.

Hi, I agree that your tips is are own hard earned little boost , for standing there for long hours sometimes with no lunch hour and putting your heart and soul into cutting colouring and and styling peoples hair
and for them to tip you and for you not recieve it in full is disgraceful
also to take complete control of your tips and share them out without your full permission is beyond belief,

If you did me a nice hair cut and I tipped you , I would be pretty annoyed to find out it went to someone else ,

I know it would be far better if everyone kept their own tips , then at the end of the week you could let your boss know exactly how much you earned in tips for his tax reasons ,
as this at least would give you control of your own tips

But.... on the other hand do think hard and carefully beore saying anything just yet!..
because although it seems unfair
being an oldie I have seen this all before... and usually...if you are on your own about this tip sharing problem... and others are not backing you up ,

I have seen the results of such things,
and some disgruntled receptionists can make a busy Stylists booking column dwindle to almost nothing overnight
I know it isnt fair or right but... as the the receptionist is usually the first port of call in a salon, she has a lot of control who she books the clients in with so...... I would think hard before saying anything more
but its your choice really ,
I can only say that if it were me I wouldn't like it either but if I had no support from other stylists I would just put up with it.
x minky

In my salons, the stylists are expected to share thier tis with the junior who assisted them only if the client didnt tip the junior seperately. Therapists get their own tips and are passed on in full. We discourage clients from adding tips to card payments.
Most industry prof believe that tips are an important part of our income, and is a way for the client to express thanks for good service.
So, the junior washed the hair, the stylist did the hair, what exactly did the receptionist do? I do not know of any salon, even in the west end, where the receptionists share the tips.
What next, the salon floor mopper taking a cut?
Stand your ground and say no!

thanks guys for your input- much appreciated!! Don't think it'll make much difference, the manager seems to have made her mind up so dont know why she even bothered asking our opinion?! She has basically put it that if I/we are not happy about it she will go back to her business partner(the one who just agrees with whatever she says i think) and will re-think. However she put it as slightly blackmailing by saying ' shall i just tell you in most places you dont get a say in tips' and ' some businesses just absorb the tips into them'!!? i just think like you guys have said, the clients tip to say an extra 'thank you' along side their payment. Just wish she could see its not just ME with this view. Oh, and she isn't declaring the tips whether we have them individually or as a 'team' so doesn't apply, it was more of a indirect threat i think to make me agree with her stupid idea! Thanks again- enjoy your day x

I'm certainly no employment law expert but I would have thought that if this practise of having tips added to your pay packet then taxed was a regular occurance, then over time it becomes part of your 'implied' terms of employment. Or standard practise, something like that anyway.

Basically it means that if she changes these terms, ie changing your pay, in effect she is in breach of contract.

I have to say I nearly exploded when I read what your manager said to you about most businesses not allowing you a say in your tips.That is utter rubbish.Your tips are your tips,nobody elses and you need to stand your ground and say that whereas if she feels she wants to give the receptionist a cut in her tips then feel free,however you have decided that you do not wish to do so and will NOT be doing so.Dont be bullied by her into agreeing,it's not her money to be making decisions with,it's yours so stand your ground.Good luck cherub

Here Here! Well said Babsann!

i feel that its the salon who should be paying appropriate wages to reward the receptionist for her level of service. they shouldnt expect you to do so.
the clients want to reward the person who gives them the treatment.

worrying though what minky says about the receptionist being in control of your bookings .

does anyone actually know how the receptionist feels about this policy, i'd feel quite embarassed taking other peoples tips.