Watford’s MP Dean Russell has thanked the government for confirming new legislation to ensure hospitality workers will retain their tips following his Tips Bill campaign, launched earlier this year.
The purpose of Dean's Tips Bill campaign is to ensure that workers receive 100% of the tips that they are given by customers by formalising this requirement in law. This would be in the form of an agreement for staff to keep the tips meant directly for them, or to have agreements in place to ensure that tips are divided fairly. For example, staff at restaurants may agree that tips should also be allocated across all staff, including hard working kitchen team members.
The Minister for Small Business, Paul Scully MP, has now confirmed to Dean that the Government will include workers’ rights for tips in the upcoming Employment Bill.
In a letter to Dean, the Minister confirms he will work with Dean on ensuring this addition to the Employment Bill delivers for workers stating “we will work together to prepare the policy and ensure legislative measures meet the needs of workers and businesses.” This means Dean's separate Tipps Bill can be withdrawn in favour of its inclusion in the Employment Bill.
Dean Russell said, “I am overjoyed that my Tips campaign has been a success and will see workers in Watford and across the UK keep their tips once this legislation passes through Parliament. The Small Business Minister and his team at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been very supportive of the need to support workers’ rights for tips and assured me they will work with me on this important legislation.
This is a huge win for hospitality workers across the UK and I want to thank the Minister and his team for confirming this important legislation, and also the many Watford based businesses which took the time to share their feedback and comments with me.”
