We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legislative Assembly to pass legislation that will demand employers immediately halt the requiring of an employee to sign a written authorization allowing management to take a portion of the employee’s tips for themselves or other management staff, upon hire, or thereafter.

    Most, if not all, employers in hospitality establishments require a tip out at the end of an employees’ shift. These gratuities are normally distributed amongst other staff that help get a customer their desired order. This is fair and adequate when it is given to the appropriate staff (bussers, hostesses, bartenders, and cooks). The issue is when an employee is required to sign a portion of their gratuities away to the employer or management. Employers already receive compensation for their business in the form of a price tag on each individual item, therefore, making it unacceptable for any employer to require any extra percentage of an employee’s hard-earned gratuities. Requiring an employee to sign written authorization allowing management a portion of their gratuities upon hire, or thereafter, should be unlawful as should disguising one tip out as another (i.e., having a miscellaneous tip out, but instead taking it for management). Employers must always be transparent with their employees about tip outs and gratuities.