Whether employees receive individual tips or share contributions to a tip jar, workers in restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments often depend on tips to ensure that their pay is fair. In some cases, employers establish a tip pooling policy to distribute those tips among their employees. These pooling policies, however, must meet specific legal requirements.
In order to mandate tip sharing and tip pooling, employers must meet specific requirements. For example, under New Jersey law, employees can only be required to contribute a reasonable portion of their individual tips to the pool.
Under federal law, employers must meet other regulations:
If you believe that your employer has not followed the legal requirements for tip sharing, speak to an attorney about the legal options available to you. It is possible to right the wrong that you have experienced and to receive damages for the pay you have been denied. An attorney can examine your case and help you determine the best course of action.