NDP introduces legislation to protect employees’ tips

HALIFAX - The NDP Caucus will introduced a bill today to ensure employers are not able to take any or all of their employees’ tips and gratuities.

“When someone decides to give a tip in exchange for good service, they assume that tip will go to the employee, or to the team of employees, who provided the service,” said Tammy Martin, NDP Spokesperson for Labour. “Employers shouldn’t be allowed to take tips and gratuities from their employees or use those tips for other business expenses."

A study on tipping in Nova Scotia showed that 33 per cent of employees report that their employer took some or all of their tips.

"I worked in the service industry for 17 years before starting my own business. Many times I questioned whether or not management was providing me with all of the tips I had earned. At one job, a portion of tips made by credit card were confiscated by management to cover credit card transaction fees," said Barb Kaill, owner of the Lucky Penny Coffee Company. "As a small business owner, I support the goal of protecting employees' tips and gratuities. I know what it's like to have tips I earned taken from me."

The legislation would allow employers to share in tips and gratuities if the employer performs the same work as employees. Quebec and Newfoundland both have similar legislation protecting employees’ tips.

-30-