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Walking into a restaurant is a complete sensory experience. We aim to cater to all five senses. Everyone across the team, from the kitchen assistant to your server today, is responsible for your experience.
The Wet Fish Cafe adds a discretionary optional service charge to customers' bills. It's designed to make life easier and to take the awkwardness out of tipping. It calculates the conventional norm of 12.5% for you.
100% of service charge and tips, without deductions, is distributed fairly so that everybody in the team shares in the success of the cafe.
Tipping Policy
1. Objective and Commitment
At The Wet Fish Cafe Ltd, we are dedicated to ensuring fairness and transparency in the handling of all tips, gratuities, and service charges.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all staff members, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and qualifying agency personnel, as defined by the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023. For agency personnel, this policy applies as if they were directly employed by The Wet Fish Cafe Ltd concerning tip allocation and distribution.
It encompasses all tips, gratuities, and service charges that are under the control or significant influence of the employer.
3. How Tips are Accepted and Allocated
3.1 Receiving Tips
Tips and Service Charges are optional for customers, and this is made clear on our menus and bills. A 12.5% discretionary service charge is suggested on bills, and sometimes customers will also ask for credit card payments to be “rounded up”, in which case the extra amount is processed through the till as a ‘credit card tip’, and pooled together with the service charges. All tips received by The Wet Fish Cafe Ltd are distributed to staff without any deductions except for required taxes.
Cash Tips given directly to staff that are not part of the optional service charge are shared informally between them at the end of each shift, and are not subject to pooling or redistribution by the employer. These do not pass through the employer’s hands and we do not exercise any control over cash tips. Staff are responsible for declaring cash tips in their own personal tax returns.
3.2 Timely Distribution
Tips and Service Charges are distributed no later than the end of the month following the month they were received (e.g., tips from June are distributed by the end of July).
3.3 Fair Allocation is based on
· Role and Duties: Distribution depends on contribution to the guest experience.
· Hours Worked: Tips are proportional to the number of hours worked during the relevant period.
· Performance Metrics: Both individual and team performance may influence tip distribution.
· Length of Service: Staff with longer tenure may receive a higher share.
· Customer Instructions: Specific directions from customers regarding tip allocation will be honoured.
3.4 Commitment to Non-Discrimination
We are committed to preventing any form of discrimination in tip distribution, ensuring no staff member is disadvantaged due to age, race, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics.
3.5 Distribution Methods
Tips are distributed through a tip pooling system (a Tronc Scheme), managed by a designated coordinator (a Troncmaster). The rules governing the tip pooling system's allocation will be communicated separately. They are then distributed as part of the normal wage payment cycle. Tips and service charges are not subject to VAT, and by using a Tronc Scheme, they are not subject National Insurance.
3.6 Agency Personnel
Tips allocated to agency personnel will be forwarded to their agency, which will ensure full payment to the individual without unauthorized deductions.
4. Transparency and Tipping Records
We maintain records of all Tips and Service Charges for a minimum of three years. Staff can request information on the total tips collected and how much they’ve personally received for any period within three years of their request, limited to one request every three months, by emailing their request to the Troncmaster or general manager who is responsible for operating payroll.
We may apply a standard service charge to customer bills. Where we do this, the customer will have been informed of this prior to making their purchase. This fee is entirely optional, and customers may adjust or remove it at their discretion.
5. Staff Consultation and Feedback
We regularly consult with staff to ensure the fairness of our tipping system. Feedback is encouraged and will be considered during policy reviews.
6. Resolving Concerns
If staff believe tips have been unfairly distributed then we encourage them to raise the concern with senior management. We will aim to resolve any concerns internally within 14 days. If unresolved, the matter can be escalated to an employment tribunal.
7. Public Transparency
We may publicly display this Tipping Policy to ensure transparency with our customers, demonstrating our commitment to fair tipping practices.
8. Contact Information
For questions or concerns regarding tip records, please contact owner-manager [email protected]