![Washington Says: “Tips Must Be Paid to Employees”](http://townsquare.media/site/139/files/2023/06/attachment-Untitled-design-24.jpg?w=630&h=354&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Washington Says: “Tips Must Be Paid to Employees”
I'll paint the picture.
You take your family out to eat to celebrate. The server is exceptionally nice and welcoming. They never forget to refill your drinks, they got your order right the first try and made sure you had an enjoyable time. For your server going above and beyond, you leave a nice tip for them as a thank you for their service.
But then you hear these stories or rumors that those tips all get pooled into a pile that just goes straight back into the business or restaurant. The servers get paid by the hour and any tipping goes back into the bottom line.
Well, as it turns out, not only is that not right, but it's also not allowed.
From Washington State Labor and Industries, Tips Must Be Paid to Employees.
A tip is a voluntary sum of money that a customer freely gives to an employee for services.
Under state law:
Employers must pay all tips to employees.
The employer may not take tips for company use, or to pay employee wages.
“Tip crediting” isn’t allowed. Tips are in addition to, and not a part of, an employee’s state hourly minimum wage.
Tip pooling may be a thing where they all share proceeds or where those tips can be used to tip non-wait staff including dishwashers or bussers but those rules are on a place-by-place basis.
Some places may even establish a service charge. A service charge might replace the tip, but state law requires clear disclosure of who the service charge is going to.
If nothing is disclosed, or the disclosure is unclear, then the entire service charge must be paid to the employee who provides services to the customer.
So tip away if you feel like it knowing it's going straight to the person helping you and not the corporation.
WOOF: These are the most popular dog breeds in America
Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman
LOOK: Here are the states where you are most likely to hit an animal
Gallery Credit: Dom DiFurio & Jacob Osborn
QUIZ: Can you identify 50 famous companies by their logos?
LOOK: 20 American foods that raise eyebrows outside of the US
Gallery Credit: Charlotte Barnett
LOOK: 25 must-visit hidden gems from across the US
Gallery Credit: Abby Monteil
LOOK: The 25 least expensive states to live in
Gallery Credit: Aubrey Jane McClaine
LOOK: Here's where people in every state are moving to most
Gallery Credit: Amanda Silvestri
25 richest families in America
Gallery Credit: Taylor Johnson
LOOK: Must-do activities at every national park
Gallery Credit: Angela Underwood
States with the most registered hunters
Gallery Credit: Meagan Drillinger
LOOK: Baby names that are illegal around the world
Gallery Credit: Annalise Mantz
LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades
Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF
LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving
Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli
LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state
Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi
LOOK: Oldest Disneyland Rides From 1955 to Today
Gallery Credit: Angela Brown
See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State
Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones
LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born
Gallery Credit: Jacob Osborn & Peter Richman
LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America
Gallery Credit: Keri Wiginton
LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore
Gallery Credit: Stacey Marcus
LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born
LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?
Gallery Credit: Katelyn Leboff
25 True Crime Locations: What Do They Look Like Today?
How Many in America: From Guns to Ghost Towns
Gallery Credit: RACHEL CAVANAUGH
The 40 Best Cover Songs by Rock Bands
LOOK: The Evolution of Slipknot's Terrifying Masks Throughout The Years
LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state
Gallery Credit: Meagan Drillinger
LOOK: Famous Historic Homes in Every State
READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest
Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang
The 100 Best Places to Live on the East Coast
The 100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest
LOOK: Here are the best small towns to live in across America
LOOK: Food history from the year you were born
Gallery Credit: Joni Sweet
LOOK: 15 Discontinued McDonald's Menu Items
50 Most Popular Chain Restaurants in America
Gallery Credit: Paul Feinstein
What Are the Signature Drinks From Every State?
50 Famous Brands That No Longer Exist
KEEP READING: Here are the best places to retire in America
KEEP READING: See the richest person in every state
KEEP READING: What were the most popular baby names from the past 100 years?
KEEP READING: Here are the most popular baby names in every state
Gallery Credit: Stacker
LOOK: The most popular biblical baby names
Gallery Credit: ELLEN DEWITT
Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
Gallery Credit: Stephanie Parker
LOOK: The most famous actress born the same year as you
Gallery Credit: Ben Wittstein
LOOK: The Most Famous Actor Born Every Year
Here are 50 of your favorite retail chains that no longer exist.
KEEP LOOKING: See what 50 company logos looked like then and now
CHECK IT OUT: See the 100 most popular brands in America
RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds
Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman
LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state
Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany
LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs
Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh
LOOK: 30 fascinating facts about sleep in the animal kingdom
Gallery Credit: Katherine Gallagher
LOOK: The least obedient dog breeds
KEEP LOOKING: See What 50 of America's Most 'Pupular' Dog Breeds Look Like as Puppies
More From 610 KONA
![Evergreen Wisdom: 10 Essential Life Lessons from Washington Living](http://townsquare.media/site/113/files/2023/06/attachment-WA-Essential-Lessons.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Benton County Fight Leads to Multiple Guns Drawn & 1 Man Arrested](http://townsquare.media/site/134/files/2023/06/attachment-Untitled-design-48.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![E Wenatchee Man To Go On Trial In Federal Court For Drug Dealing](http://townsquare.media/site/1134/files/2023/04/attachment-RS50222_GettyImages-1081637412.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How Water Gets Delivered to Your Home Faucet?](http://townsquare.media/site/1137/files/2023/06/attachment-WATERmoseslake.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Washington Sheriff’s Office Chopper Rescues Sick Hiker from Trail](http://townsquare.media/site/134/files/2023/06/attachment-Untitled-design-42.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Attorney for Badger Mountain Murder Suspect Requests Second Psych Evaluation](http://townsquare.media/site/1134/files/2019/03/Douglas-County-Courthouse-2-e1571973399761.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Chelan County Gearing Up For Fires In Forests And Vacation Spots](http://townsquare.media/site/1134/files/2023/06/attachment-Image-of-wildfire-preparations-at-Holden-Village-from-Chelan-County-Sheriffs-Office.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Police Investigating Possible Drive-By Shooting in Moses Lake](http://townsquare.media/site/1134/files/2020/06/123rf-stock-police-lights-June-14-2020-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What Does The Average Wedding Cost in Washington?](http://townsquare.media/site/1134/files/2023/06/attachment-Wedding-couple-e1686166477610.jpg?w=980&q=75)