Miller & Carter defends tipping policy after trade union backlash

Steakhouse restaurant group Miller & Carter has defended its tipping policies over claims the system in some sites is unfair to staff.

Trade union Unite claimed waiting staff were losing out on hundreds of pounds a month in potential tips due to the policy in some restaurants.

It said around a third of Miller and Carter's sites used a percentage of total sales to determine how tips were shared between waiting staff and the wider team.

Unite claimed in some cases this meant waiting staff accumulated a ‘tip deficit' that had to be covered by tips made in future shifts and in one case a team member had been asked to provide cash up front to cover the debt.

Unite's lead hospitality organiser Bryan Simpson said the policy forced "low-paid workers to find tips that can never be guaranteed".

"There is a strongly held fear among our members that they will be brought below the minimum wage by this system," he added.

Miller & Carter denied this and said team members "have not, and never will be, asked to contribute towards tips from their own remuneration".

"Team members never have their wages reduced in lieu of the tips they have received and will never be asked to make up any perceived shortfall in tips that are to be distributed to other team members," the restaurant group added.

Miller & Carter, which is part of Mitchells & Butlers, said team members at each of its 124 sites decided how tips should be distributed.

However, Unite claimed it had seen evidence from a number of restaurants that showed staff were given limited options on which tipping systems to use, with most only offering differing versions of a percentage of sales.

A spokesperson for Miller & Carter said: "General managers are not involved in the vote and/or final decisions and do not receive the benefits of tips. Every other member of staff is encouraged to participate in the process of how tips will be allocated amongst the team to ensure fairness for all.

"At this time, there are more than 70 variations across the estate as to how tips are distributed. No tipping policy in any venue should ever result in team members having to contribute from their own pocket."

They added: "We are aware that in five out of our 124 restaurants this year the teams have not been able to agree the best tip sharing solution for their restaurant.

"We are currently trying to help the teams at these sites find a resolution that works for everyone and if we are made aware of any practices that don't follow what has been agreed by the team, we will investigate further."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the trade union would be "fighting this policy all the way".

Mitchells & Butlers is also behind restaurant brands including Harvester, All Bar One and Browns.

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