Tips and the dealing.....

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Permalink Reply by reggie on October 27, 2009 at 10:03am

do u have proof thats the key

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Permalink Reply by Chef Baden on October 27, 2009 at 4:53pm

ABSOLUTELY; did you not read the whole blog?
1) the owner is always the one that completes the billing and payment from the guest.

2) The credit card receipt has a specific line into which a tip is put.

3) The wrangler is the only person having contact with the guest for the horse ride, and or pack trip, AND the guest(s) HAVE specifically told the owner the tip is for such-an-such wrangler.

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Permalink Reply by reggie on October 27, 2009 at 4:55pm

then u have an case with the wage and labor board

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Permalink Reply by Chef Baden on October 27, 2009 at 5:01pm

Ok...I was wondering; Thank You; I didnt want to open that can of worms without somne sort of backing. Thanks Reggie

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 27, 2009 at 3:15pm

Believe it or not, unless the cash tip, or the credit card tip amount, is SPECIFICALLY designated as a gratuity to YOU, your employer can keep it, and distribute it (or not) as he sees fit. If not so specifically designated, the tip can be considered as a gratuity to the overall "staff" and can be legally used in any way that benefits the employees, even indirectly (like putting a soda machine in the break room).

Of course, this is totally reprehensible (though legal) conduct on the part of the employer, and several questions arise: how did you find out about the existence of the tips? Did you confront your employer about them? Does this happen on a regular basis? Do any of you EVER receive any tips that aren't given directly to you by the guests? Hasn't anyone else noticed that, and wondered why?

There might be several ways to formally complain about this, but you''l probably exhaust yourself trying. Talk directly to the owner of the business, and tell him what's been happening. It's possible that whoever handles the money is simply stealing your tips. If you get stonewalled, however, it's the owner that's ripping you off, and the best thing to do is simply quit, and walk away. Make sure that you do so at the exact moment that you're about to lead a train of horses carrying paying guests into the backcountry for a weekend; that way, your employer will lose as much money as possible.

This is so incredible and egregious that I'm inclined to give the owner the benefit of the doubt, and attribute the loss of your tips to someone else in the food chain ripping you off, but if it's indeed the owner who's hosing you, then he deserves to have his business fail.

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Permalink Reply by Chef Baden on October 29, 2009 at 7:26pm

Hey kevin; sorry for taking so long to reply.

In amswer to your many questions..
1)The owner is THE ONLY one taking payment of final bill.
2)The ranch manager has told me that a bill was paid and the grtuity was added to the bill.
3)Because of the way I work with the guests; I become rather close to them, I receive emails from them thanking me for the great hospitality, the wonderful pictures that I send them of their experience, and most of them actually ask if I receive the gratuity they have left.

Unfortunately; because we are closing at end of month, and I have no way out till we close and I get a rid eout with the other ONLY wrangler, so it would be wise not to "rock the boat" so to speak.

But thank you for the answers to my questions.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 29, 2009 at 10:49pm

Well, it sounds like the owner is ripping you off directly, so there's no one to complain to.

You're probably talking about a substantial amount of money here, and I think it's worth the risk to confront the owner directly and demand that he return the tips he stole from you. Of course, wait until you've received and cashed your final check before you do that.

It would be a very good idea to file a formal complaint against this person, and every state will have a "labor practices board" or something similar, for this exact purpose. Gather as much evidence as you can, and take down the names and contact info for your ranch manager and the other wranglers. Documentation is key, as your thieving employer probably figures that you will either not have the time or the inclination to pursue this, or that it will wind up as a case of your word vs. his.

This would greatly help future workers at this ranch, even if you yourself derived no ultimate benefit from it. Employers who rip off their employees need to be exposed--and prosecuted.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mellott on October 29, 2009 at 6:00pm

Chef,
This is not the first instance that I have heard of this happening. The ranch I am currently at had a problem with it's former GM doing exactly the same thing. Notice I said former GM. Somebody has to be the whistleblower, if it is you, so be it! Owners and GM's need to know that their staff are important parts of their operations and not just an excuse for them to have some time off. I am sure that a look into former staff members, will probably find a pattern of high employee turnover because of factors like this. You need to find some of these staffers and ask if they encountered the same problem and then move on with a group of actors.

Furthermore, Chef, I think the CW world needs to know what place this is so that we can avoid any of our friends from encountering the same problem in the future.

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Permalink Reply by Chef Baden on October 29, 2009 at 7:29pm

Hey kevin;

This also is not the only ranch I have heard about doing this.

I have had the oppurtunity to discuss this with former employees, and they too have stated the same info as far as the gratuity theft issue, as far as letting everyone know about this place, Im waiting till I get my last check and am off the property till i name names.

Keep posted..just a few more days

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Permalink Reply by akscootr on October 29, 2009 at 11:30pm

Why not tell the customers who email you the truth? Maybe their complaints will be listened to by the owner if the owner wants to retain their business. Most business owners are intolerant of losing business... Sorry you are stuck with a thief for a GM. I hope you solve it....

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Permalink Reply by Coly Hope on November 9, 2009 at 1:38pm

This is done all the time and not with just seasonal work. I know someone who drives a charter bus and their boss will put gratuity in the bill and the driver will never see the money. One customer actually asked my friend about the tip and he told him he never saw it. The customer said he would never do business with that bus service again.

What is even more sad is that even employees will do that to other employees. That happened in Yellowstone were we caught a room inspector stealing tips.

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Permalink Reply by Chef Baden on November 9, 2009 at 3:30pm

Howdy my Coolworks-cool friends; Ive been asked to enlighten you all of the ranch in which I worked at and informed you of the tips that were taken.

Coffee Creek Dude Ranch
Trinty Center,Ca.
OWNER: Ruth Hartman

Now this is what happens: A guest pays their final bill with either credit card or cash or check.

The guest leaves a tip ON the bill, or payment of the bill;
If done on a credit card payment-sometimes we get it, only if we question it.

If bill is paid in cash and guest(s) states: "this tip is for such-an-such person,wrangler,cook,server,housekeeper--WE NEVER SEE IT

Same thing if guest(s) pay with check.


I was told by the office person that a tip was place on a credit card bill and was labeled as such; but because we (employee's) never see the final bill, we dont get it, so we confronted the owner(Ruth Hartman), and she said: Oh I forgot to give it to you; and states as soon as she gets to a bank, she will give it to us; hoping we will forget in time...I do NOT forget such things..

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