Tipping etiquette is a minefield, and a controversial one at that. When do you tip? Who do you tip? And crucially, how much? Aside from being a source of debate, lack of regulation has meant that far too often, staff were losing out on what should have been theirs to take home.
This wholly unfair system has been excepted as the norm across most of the world (excluding the USA where tipping is an engrained part of life), until last month when revolutionary and overdue legislation came into place. This new legislation ensures more transparency around the distribution of tips in the UK. These changes will require employers to pass all tips, gratuities, and service charges on to workers, without deductions, a landmark moment for those working in hospitality and other service industries.
JustTip has been at the very forefront when it comes to changing the face of tipping in Ireland and the UK. As entrepreneurs, we recognised the staggering unfairness when it came to staff tips in hospitality and service industries, and hence our business was founded. A cashless tipping solution that allows customers to tip employees directly without the need for cash. JUSTTIP™ provides a tipping platform that exists separately from each business with end-to-end transaction reports and complete transparency for employees and customers. The business has been leading the Irish solution since the same legislation was passed there in 2022.
So, what does this mean for the future of tipping and the wider hospitality and service industries? For starters, millions of hard working and dedicated workers will benefit from the new laws which will ensure they keep 100% of the money they have earned through tips. Systems such as JustTip make the process simpler for employers, so there is no extra burden on them. Ultimately, the hope is that consumers will embrace this fairer system, and in the knowledge that a tip will go directly to the person for whom it is intended, a positive tipping culture will become the norm here too. At a time when the hospitality industry needs our support, this is surely a positive way forward.
