Im not sure if I am over reacting, Im currently pregnant, so the hormones are not helping me get a proper grip on this.
I've posted before about staff tips but eventually it was agreed by the department managers that a scoring system would be in place. I spent ages doing it and took the results in last night and the restaurant threw her toys of the pram that she was only get 30.00 from the kitty. (She's getting the most as she is a manager).. She started saying that she would just keep all the tips from the restaurant as they are hers and that the rest would be shared out amongst the other 39 staff. And that by the time that the tax man had taken their cut, she would be down to what the cleaning staff would be on (as they only work a few hours so don't pay tax or alot of tax).. I told her that was the way it works in the UK. The more you earn, the more you pay and then the owner stepped in and suggested that we don't declare any. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, my title (as being in charge of the tips) is something like "trunk master" and what I do know about it is that if the IR think there is a scam, the decide what tax should have been paid and I am made personally responsible. I also do self assessment and although these are done correctly every year, the last thing I need would be an investigation hanging over me. I think I am in shock that the owner (and friend) is quite happy to put me at risk to keep her in the restaurant happier. I'm actually on a work break from a fraud background and I cannot believe that the are actually considering this.. I hold my integrity highly and I don't want that questioned by anyone. I'm going in this morning to work, I'm planning on telling them that I want nothing to do with the tip money and that I will take no "cut", (is 7.00 odd a week worth the stress?) I really want to tell them that I am susprised at their reaction to her in the restaurant throwing the toys out the pram and risking an investigation, nevermind leaving it all in my lap for what accounts to tax evasion. I know that it is a minimal chance that they would be picked up but its not a never is it.. there is still that small risk. Anyway, I'm sure when I get to work the owner will have decided against the not declaring it but I just don't feel comfortable with knowing that the restaurant are not declaring their tips, from both my fraud background and also for the fairness to the rest of the staff that earn part of the tip.