Boss technically steals my money!?!

Since not that many people know where I work, I can talk about this freely without anyone getting in trouble including me. PLEASE tell me what you think about what just happened to me.

So I work at a restaurant as a server and I get a party of about 15 people. Tip is included which is only 15% which came out to $70.49. One of the ladies insists that I give her the bill, I do, and then I get it back after she signs it. She included another $50 which means she tipped me $120.49 (~ 26%). I inform her that 15% is already included and she tells me that she knows and smiles really big. I tell her that I’m just making sure and she tells me two more times that she knows and keeps on smiling. After I close out my manager asks to see my credit card slips. I show him and tell him that she tipped me 26% because I already know that’s why he wants to see them.

He then tells me, “I’m not going to pay that”.

I said,” what?”

He then says,” they’re going to call back tomorrow and complain. They always do. I guarentee it. I’m not going to give that $50 to you. We never do”.

I tell him that I informed the customer that 15% was included and she told me she knows.

The manager then tells me,” well she didn’t tell me”.

WHAT, why do customers have to tell you everytime they leave additional tips more than 15%. That’s so stupid. He straight out LIED when he said that they never pay us the additional tips. You can ask ANY server in that restaurant that when someone leaves additional tips more than the 15% that is included, our boss and manager has paid it to us MULTIPLE times. So he tells me that everytime someone leaves additional tips, the CUSTOMER has to let the manager or boss know. WTF. Where in the world do you as a customer have to tell the boss,” uh, I’m going to tip the server 16%.”

The manager and the boss always tell all the servers that once the credit card transaction is finalized by us, that they can’t do anything to it or change it because it’s too late. But this time he tells me that he’s not going to pay me the additional $50 that I rightfully got tipped by the customer. Which brings me to 2 questions: So if you can’t change the credit card transactions after we finalize it, then that means you’re PERSONALLY keeping my $50? Or if you can change the transactions after they have been finalized, then you’ve been lying to all the workers for more than 20 years.

Tips has NOTHING to do with the finances of the restaurant. It goes from the customer to the server, so why is my manager preventing me from receiving my tips? This has to be illegal because they have no right taking my tips away from me. Isn’t tipping your server the number one way for customers to rate how well they have worked? So how come I get tipped $120 and my manager can’t accept that fact that I’m a good server. Instead he punishes me and doesn’t pay me my $50 that I rightfully deserve. This has to be considered a restaurant scandal or something. Someone please let me know what you think and tell me if I’m right or not. This can’t be fair in any way possible.

- RYCE Randy