A Glasgow restaurant has been forced into a U-turn after staff were threatened they would lose tips for failing to carry out certain tasks – including facing a deduction for making a manager constantly repeat themselves.

The boss of Oscar Bar and Kitchen admitted the message sent by a senior manager was “ill-informed and completely unacceptable” after Unite stepped in to support the workers.

The union posted a picture of the message online, which warned staff that “not applying yourself properly” would lead to a loss of tips.

It was claimed the scheme would help the kitchen to “run a lot more efficient”.

Potential offences included a £10 deduction for leaving a spoon in a tub and a £2 deduction for making a manager repeat themselves.

Staff were also warned that they would forfeit a week of tips for failing to clean out the microwave.

The message ended: “I fully expect all of us to be receiving full tips every fortnight.”

Unite Hospitality said the message underlined a need for fair tips legislation.

The scheme was criticised online, with many taking umbrage at tips being deducted for making a manager repeat themselves.

One person branded it “pure uncut psycho behaviour”, while another added: “Treating working adults like naughty children who you can deduct pocket money from – disgusting.”

Another customer said: “This place is less than a minute’s walk from my new flat and has been a lovely wee place to take the dog. Won’t be back.”

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Following a management meeting and talks with Unite, owner Daniyal Schafaei released a statement via the union which read: “We would like to distance ourselves entirely from the post that was sent to workers by a senior manager entitled ‘tips scheme’. It was ill-informed and completely unacceptable.

“Our workforce are incredibly important to us and as such we have decided to adopt a new fair tips policy which will ensure that 100% of all tips go directly to the workers who provide the great service our customers have come to expect.

“Not a penny of these tips will go to management and they will be shared fairly among all other workers according to the hours that they work.

“We welcome the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 and hope to work with Unite on all matters relating to the terms and conditions of our workers.”

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Bryan Simpson, lead organiser for Unite Hospitality, said he was pleased the restaurant, in Glasgow’s Shawlands, had abandoned the “morally reprehensible and potentially unlawful tipping system”.

He added: “We now need Daniel to fully implement a fair tips policy which ensures that workers receive 100% of all tips, fairly distributed to the workers who earned it.

“This case wasn’t just about a shocking management position; it highlighted the real need for fair tips legalisation to ensure that businesses cannot get away with deducting tips or indeed using them as a performance management tool.”

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