A Question for Waitresses/Former Ones

[Chattyaholic]

Do/did you always trust other waitresses with your tips?

The restaurant where I work we have our own tip cups under the counter. I have always trusted other waitresses to put my tips in my tip cup, as I sometimes put tips in theirs as well. We clear each other's tables all the time and think nothing of putting their tips in their cups.

But we have one new waitress that I just do not trust. I didn't feel this way at first, but a couple other waitresses said they think she has "sticky fingers."

Well, last night (Monday) I was waitressing and this other waitress was hostessing. It seemed odd that on the first table she cleared for me she said the people didn't tip. Maybe it was just a coincidence, I don't know, but after that I kept closer watch of my tips and when I saw people leave I would take the money off the table before she got there to clear it. Apparently she was upset about that and told the cooks/dishwasher about it and that she was going to tell the boss about it today. Well, let her tell, I don't care. If other waitresses had not said they suspected her of stealing tips, I would not have taken my tips before she could clear the tables, but with those suspicions I wasn't about to let her have access to them.

Do you think I was right in doing what I did? What would you have done in that situation?

I have to work with this girl 4 more nights this week, and I am not looking forward to it at all.

 

[Serena]

What grounds does she had to "tell" anything? Those were your tips, who cares when you collected them. As long as you aren't taking them out of the customers hands.
That in itself is suspicious to me.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Serena, well our boss normally doesn't like it if we take our tips off the table. She says "if you have time to take your tip off the table, then you have time to also bus the table." I kind of understand, because if we take the tip off the table but don't clear it, then she doesn't know if the people have left or not. If she's clearing tables and sees the tip there, she knows it's all right to clear it. But if we take the tip off, she doesn't know. But on Monday nights the boss isn't there. I really don't think she'll have a problem with what I did, so I don't care if this other waitress tells her or not. In fact, let her tell. Then if the boss asks me about it, I can tell her why.

 

[Serena]

I see, that makes sense. Good luck with this anyway. I hope you don't have to work with her for too long.

 

[Cebhfhionn]

When I was waitressing, it was a little different because it was in a dinner theatre atmosphere. However, there were some people that I trusted and some that I did not. I guess this girl would fit into the NOT category. Explain to your boss how you feel, I'm sure that if she knows why you are taking your tips off the tables before this girl clears them, she'll understand.

However, you guys leave your tip cups somewhere that she has access to easily? That's kind of scary!

 

[Teejay32]

I wouldn't even want to bus someone else's table that had no tip on it. I remember a few problem people, but not many...usually the crew's instincts were good about that, and the problems wouldn't last.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

when I worked we had more of a problem with customers stealing the tips than fellow employees. We always kept our tips with us however.

I wouldn't make a big deal of it, but I'd keep an eye on your tables and her. If you could actually witness her doing something, your story will be much more convincing to the bosses. And if you go get your money off the table, at least grab the drink glasses or something. I saw more than one waitress cut down to 5 hours a week for not helping with bussing the tables or carrying out food for other tables when they were less busy.