The government has launched a new consultation on tipping in restaurants—but CGA Peach data suggests the majority of British consumers are content with current practices.
The government unveiled the consultation earlier this week, claiming it wanted to give workers and consumers greater transparency on tipping. It has also raised various ideas including making the industry’s code of practice a statutory one, rather than voluntary at present, and proposed moves to prevent employers from deducting discretionary payments for service beyond those required by taxation laws.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We want workers who earn a tip to be able to keep it. That’s why I, like many others, was disappointed by the tipping practices of some of our well-known chains. This has to change. Today I’m setting out our proposals to make tipping fairer, clamping down on unfair practices and securing a better deal for the millions of workers in the service industry. We will look closely at all the options, including legislation if necessary.”
The consultation has been launched following criticism of some large chains’ policies on tipping in the media in the first few months of the year. But figures from CGA Peach’s BrandTrack survey of British consumers in April 2015 found that around three quarters (74.6%) had not heard any negative things about the tipping policies of the 56 leading eating-out brands they were asked about.
Submissions to the consultation can be made here.
