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Restaurants Will Be Forced To Hand Over Tips To All Workers Under New Law

Restaurants Will Be Forced To Hand Over Tips To All Workers Under New Law

The new bill will force employers to hand over all tips to their staff, and will apply to companies in England, Scotland and Wales

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

The Queen has announced that workers in restaurants, pubs and hotels will receive 100 percent of their tips, as part of a new bill unveiled in today's Queen's Speech.

The new bill will force employers to hand over all tips to their staff, and will apply to companies in England, Scotland and Wales.

Speaking from her shiny golden throne this morning during the State Opening of Parliament, Queen Elizabeth said: "My government will take steps to make work fairer, introducing measures that will support those working hard."

PA

Currently, companies are able to follow a voluntary, opt-in system regarding tipping. This means they have no legal obligation to pass service charge over to staff.

However, the new Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill will ensure the cash is handed over to waiting staff by law, meaning restaurateurs will have to 'pass on all tips, gratuities and service charges to workers without deductions'.

It will also mean businesses must be transparent with customers about how tips are shared out among work forces.

The topic has been a source of contention for some time among hospitality workers, with many high street chains having recently come under fire for withholding tips from workers.

Over on Instagram last year, we asked LADbible readers what they thought about the problem after then-Prime Minister Theresa May announced plans to impose a ban on restaurants keeping tips from staff.

A whopping 85 percent of you (37,262 people) believed that restaurants shouldn't be allowed to keep staff tips, while 8,490 of you were comfortable with your generous offerings being poured back into the business' coffers.

LADbible

A further 82 percent of voters - that's 31,353 people (vs 5,464 voting the opposite way) - also said they wouldn't tip if they knew a share was going to the restaurant, not the staff.

The Queen's Speech today has been the first of Boris Johnson's leadership, and has outlined plans for various other areas, including a new Environment Bill that will set legally-binding targets to reduce the use of plastics, restore biodiversity, improve water quality and slash air pollution.

The national living wage will also rise to £10.50 an hour, The Queen said, while a mental health reform will attempt to reduce the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act by ensuring more people get the help they need.

An Immigration and Social Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill will also end freedom of movement, with an intention to set up a points-based immigration system from 2021.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: uk news, News