Michael Prue to resurrect his attempted “tipping-out” ban for restaurants

Next week, Beaches-East York MPP Michael Prue will be resurrecting his bid to end the practice of server “tip-outs” to management. The single-sentence proposed amendment to the Employment Standards Act legally forbids employers from reaping any of their employees’ gratuities. Prue created much controversy when he first tabled the private member’s bill back in 2010. Tip-out rates (usually anywhere from 0.5 to 5 per cent) and tip sharing arrangements vary by restaurant—sometimes they’re used by employers to cover the cost of rent, and sometimes they’re used as a means to help out invisible but crucial back-of-the-house staff members, like line cooks and service bartenders (the kind that never get to lend an ear or toss and twist a tequila bottle in search of an extra loonie). Last time around, Prue’s bid carried at second reading but was referred to a standing committee, where it died. Prue will table this second attempt on Monday. It’s a pretty safe bet that many servers across the city will be cheering him on.