London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 30, 2025

New bill guaranteeing tips for hospitality workers moves closer to becoming law

New bill guaranteeing tips for hospitality workers moves closer to becoming law

The issue was first highlighted in 2015 when it was revealed some chains were adding service charges and using some of this money to top up managers' salaries.
A bill to ensure hospitality workers and others receive their tips in full has moved closer to becoming law after gaining cross-party support in the House of Commons.

Plans to legislate in this area have been delayed since 2015 when a government consultation found restaurant customers were overwhelmingly in favour of the tips they paid going to the people who served them.

Further research the same year found that many owners of restaurants, bars, and cafes add discretionary service charges to customers' bills but then keep some of the money themselves.

Under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, employers would have a legal obligation on employers to ensure all tips, gratuities and service charges are paid to workers in full.

Employees will be able to request tipping records and take employers to a tribunal if they feel tips have been withheld.

The long-delayed legislation would also enable the government to create a code of practice intended to ensure fairness and transparency in how the money is allocated among staff, and introduce an enforcement mechanism for employees to make complaints and seek redress.

In October 2018, then prime minister Theresa May announced plans to deal with tips but Brexit turmoil prevented the legislation from going ahead.

Similarly Boris Johnson, when he was in the top job, also looked to make the change when in October 2019 the Queen's Speech committed to bringing forward the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill.

Following the snap general election that year, the Queen's Speech incorporated the measures into a proposed Employment Bill - but it did not materialise in the last parliamentary session.

The Queen's Speech in May 2021 did not list an Employment Bill or a specific tips bill.

Law will 'create confidence for consumers'

Now, Tory MP Virginia Crosbie has sponsored the bill - and on Friday it cleared its final hurdle in the Commons and will progress to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

Speaking during the bill's third reading on Friday, Ms Crosbie told MPs: "The tipping bill has a simple message: to promote fairness and to promote transparency, to ensure that workers receive the tips they earn.

"This will create a level playing field for businesses who are already passing on tips to workers in a fair and transparent way.

"It will create confidence for consumers, who will know that the full value of the tip that they give will go to the workers."

She added: "It is estimated that this bill will benefit around one million workers in the sector, with a financial benefit of around £200 each year.

"With the cost of living at the front of a lot of people's minds, this bill will help those workers who are wrongly not receiving the money that they are due from the tips that they have earned."

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake said the bill will protect workers from "bad bosses" and give them an avenue to seek remedies.

He said: "Businesses will be assured they are not being undercut by companies where bosses are keeping tips for themselves.

"Consumers will have increased confidence that their tips are going to the workers they are intended for."
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
×