What are the laws governing the payment of employee tips?
In the state of Washington, employee tips are subject to certain laws and regulations. Generally, employers must pay employees the minimum wage, regardless of the amount of tips they receive, and employers may not require employees to contribute all or part of tips to the employer, customers, or other employees. Employers are also prohibited from taking a portion of their employees’ tips. This is considered a ‘tip pool’, and only applies when the employee doesn’t receive the minimum wage. In these cases, employers may take a percentage of an employee’s tips to cover wage deficiencies, but the amount taken cannot exceed 15%. Employers also have to make sure that the employees receiving tips are paid the full minimum wage. In addition, Washington law prohibits employers from requiring workers to share tips with supervisors or managers, as well as making tips a condition of employment. Employers are also required to keep accurate records on tips earned by their workers and make sure the information is easily accessible to them. They must also make sure that their employees receive all the wages and tips they are owed. Customers are also protected under Washington’s labor laws. It is illegal for any business to add a fee to a customer’s bill that would reduce the amount of tips a worker receives. If a customer finds that a business has done this, they should contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
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