Targeting tip theft: Worker’s Action Centre works to stop employers from grabbing workers gratuities
An information session was held on the Halifax waterfront Sunday to raise awareness about tip theft.
“We see this is a very widespread problem. We put out a survey and 73 per cent of respondents said that they had some kind of experience with tip theft,” says Sydnee Blum of the Worker’s Action Centre.
Blum and colleagues were informing people about what she calls the dishonest practice of employers helping themselves to their worker’s gratuities. It’s something that isn’t illegal in Nova Scotia.
“Because tips aren’t considered wages, it’s not illegal for an employer to deduct for things like dining and dashing or a broken plate so employers see this as a way to cover their costs,” Blum says. “If you give a tip you want that to go to the person you were tipping, you don’t want the owners to take a cut, right?”
The Worker’s Action Centre held an information session on the Halifax waterfront to raise awareness about tip theft. (Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News)
With the cost of living as high as it is, Blum says workers can’t afford to lose out on the cash customers leave for them.
“Workers in the service industry makes some of the lowest wages in the province. These are very precarious employment situations, and we know that cost of living is skyrocketing and the cost of everything is going up, so every little bit counts,” says Blum.
“The reason we hear from business owners are the same reasons why workers need these tips so badly, the cost of things are going up. The cost of business is skyrocketing, but frankly a lot of owners see this as an alternative way to garnish wages. Wage garnishment is illegal here,” Blum adds.
The Worker’s Action Centre is calling on the province to ban tip theft so staff can take home the money that’s intended for them.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7027672.1725626853!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Canada's unemployment rate at 6.6%, rises past seven year high outside of pandemic
Canada's unemployment rate edged up to 6.6 per cent in August, scaling a peak last seen more than seven years ago outside of pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, data showed on Friday.
Ontario cutting funding from daycare centres not in $10-a-day program
Ontario child-care centres that aren't participating in the national $10-a-day program will soon lose provincial funding to offer fee subsidies to lower-income families and their staff could see a pay cut of $2 an hour.
Federal government's new hybrid work rules begin Monday: Here's what you need to know
Starting Monday, Sept. 9, federal employees in the core public administration will be required to be in the office a minimum of three days a week, and executives will need to be on-site a minimum of four days a week.
Teen charged in deadly shooting at Georgia high school appears in court for hearing
The 14-year-old suspect in a shooting at a Georgia high school that killed four people will stay in detention as his lawyer declined to seek bail at a Friday morning court hearing.
Search continues for 'armed and dangerous' suspect after fatal New Brunswick shooting
The New Brunswick RCMP says the search continues Friday in the Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) First Nation area for a man who is wanted in connection with a fatal shooting.
'It's remarkable!': Meteor captured on Calgary doorbell camera
You never know what you might find in your doorbell camera footage...
Girl, 15, set on fire in assault at Saskatoon high school: police
A 15-year-old girl was set on fire in an assault at Saskatoon's Evan Hardy Collegiate Thursday afternoon, police say.
Japanese 7-Eleven convenience store chain operator turns down Couche-Tard takeover offer
The parent company of the Japanese 7-Eleven convenience store chain said Friday that it’s turning down a takeover offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. of Canada.
Jacob Hoggard seeking to appeal his sexual assault conviction to the Supreme Court
Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard is seeking leave to appeal his sexual assault conviction to the Supreme Court of Canada.