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“An Accidental Tap”: Customer Catches Cashier Giving Himself A Tip, Reports To Corporate
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“An Accidental Tap”: Customer Catches Cashier Giving Himself A Tip, Reports To Corporate

“An Accidental Tap”: Customer Catches Cashier Giving Himself A Tip, Reports To Corporate“Pure Insanity”: Cashier Thinks He Can Get Away With Giving Himself A Tip, Gets CaughtPerson Tips Cashier $1, The Next Day He Doesn’t Ask For It And Gives It To HimselfRestaurant Cashier In Hot Water After Customer Catches Him Adding A “Stealth Tip” For Himself“View The Security Tapes”: Customer Catches Cashier Giving Himself Extra Tip, Escalates SituationCustomer Wants Cashier Held Accountable For Stealthily Giving Himself An Extra TipCashier Caught Red-Handed After Giving Himself A ‘Stealth Tip’ Behind Customer’s BackPerson Finds It Weird That Cashier Doesn’t Ask For A Tip, Finds Out He Added One HimselfCashier Doesn't Get A Big Enough Tip From A Customer, Gets Caught Giving It To HimselfCustomer Vents About Cashier Giving Himself A ‘Stealth Tip’, Managers Say It Was An Accident
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Being a restaurant employee is challenging, often thankless, with the occupational hazard of dealing with entitled people. Most don’t get paid enough for their work, which unfortunately leads to some cases of theft through the tipping system. 

This was an experience for a customer who caught a restaurant cashier adding a few dollars “stealthily” to the bill. The person escalated the matter to top management, who were in disbelief about what happened. 

You’ll find the entire text below and some similar stories from the readers. 

Some employees in the service industry engage in petty theft through the tipping system

Image credits: Drazen Zigic / Freepik (not the actual photo)

This restaurant cashier added a few dollars to the total bill after the customer had already tipped him

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The author escalated the matter to top management

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Image credits: svetlanasokolova / Freepik (not the actual photo)

But isn’t counting on achieving a resolution

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Image credits: IncidentCultural896

Shortcomings from restaurant owners likely cause tip theft

Any form of theft is inexcusable, and necessary sanctions must be imposed on the erring employee. However, such cases could be avoided by restaurant owners. 

Employee-focused law firm Herrmann Law blames the restaurant’s credit card-based tipping system. In a recent article, the firm pointed out how this kind of system gives owners a “false sense of ownership” over tips that legally belong to servers. 

Some employers also steal their staff’s tips. A 2017 report by the Economic Policy Institute revealed that restaurants pocketed $5.8 billion worth of tips. 

Salaries could be another potential reason for tip theft, as restaurant employees earn between $14.39 and $17.11 per hour. These figures show a disparity with the employees’ average hourly wage of $28.16

Restaurant owners must take a proactive approach to prevent employee theft

Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

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At the end of the day, it’s the employer’s responsibility to take care of its employees and take necessary steps to prevent theft. In the story’s case, using the credit card system for tips indirectly enabled the restaurant staff to steal, albeit a meager amount. 

In an interview with SHRM, lawyer Zoe Argento advises preventing employees from gaining access to valuable information as a form of prevention. Restaurants that use credit cards for tips should reconsider these methods. 

Added surveillance measures can be considered if the situation calls for them, especially in common areas. However, owners must exercise caution. 

“Surveillance can also damage morale if too intrusive,” Argento said. 

Speaking of employee morale, better treatment of staff members may also help prevent theft. Business.com suggests providing staff meals, at the very least, if raises aren’t possible. It also makes employees feel like they are part of a family. 

In the story, the restaurant’s top management could have been more hands-on in dealing with the employee theft. But because they are a known brand, they are likely doing damage control, which isn’t a good look for them.

Readers offered their reactions to the story

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Some shared similar experiences

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Miguel Ordoñez

Miguel Ordoñez

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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Miguel Ordoñez

Miguel Ordoñez

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Read less »

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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Panda Panda Bo Banda
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please don't boycott tipping waiters and servers who live off their tips. F the rest tho

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Libstak
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank God I live in Australia. Literally never even think about tipping unless I'm in a group and we are splitting, then we all put in an extra $2 or so just because of the work managing large groups orders versus an ave 4 table, seems fair to ensure they can grab a treat for themselves for that right? I often have to pull a reverse uno on small businesses too, like bakeries and family owned fast food take away. Asians especially seem to knock of an extra $1 or 2 just because they are feeling kind. In those instances, I pay with cash and make sure they keep the change, it just tickles me to do so cos i dont need the discount but im pretty sure a bit extra here and there makes them smile like they wanted to make me smile.

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Panda Panda Bo Banda
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please don't boycott tipping waiters and servers who live off their tips. F the rest tho

Load More Replies...
Libstak
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank God I live in Australia. Literally never even think about tipping unless I'm in a group and we are splitting, then we all put in an extra $2 or so just because of the work managing large groups orders versus an ave 4 table, seems fair to ensure they can grab a treat for themselves for that right? I often have to pull a reverse uno on small businesses too, like bakeries and family owned fast food take away. Asians especially seem to knock of an extra $1 or 2 just because they are feeling kind. In those instances, I pay with cash and make sure they keep the change, it just tickles me to do so cos i dont need the discount but im pretty sure a bit extra here and there makes them smile like they wanted to make me smile.

Load More Comments
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