Alberta Official Opposition Leader Christina Gray introduced the Employment Standards (Protecting Workers’ Tips) Amendment Act (ESPWTAA) to protect workers from having their tips withheld or paid to employers. Additionally, Gray said workers “shouldn’t have to fight to make sure they receive their tips.”“Albertans are already facing high inflation rates, high unemployment rates, skyrocketing rent prices, astronomical auto insurance rates, and the lowest minimum wage in the country,” said Gray in a Wednesday press release.“We can make sure that working Albertans don’t have to struggle more than they already are.” The Alberta NDP said the ESPWTAA intends to protect servers from losing their tips to employers who do not directly provide service to customers. In this case, it said it excludes managers and owners from tipping pools unless they do the same work as employees and ensures cooks, food runners, and hosts are included in the tips. It protects workers by ensuring they agree to enter into agreements for tipping pools rather than allow employers to impose a pooling policy unilaterally. Six Canadian provinces have created protections for workers’ tips through legislation and changes to employment codes. As cash tipping declines, Gray said a lack of regulation “makes it easier for management to reallocate card payment tips meant for servers.”“Other provinces have stepped up and passed legislation to protect workers’ tips — it’s time Alberta did the same,” she said. Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade Minister Matt Jones responded by saying that ensuring workers’ rights in the workplace is a top priority for the government. “Alberta’s service industry plays an important role in our communities and in the strength of our economy,” said Jones. “We recognize that customers want see the tips they leave go to the person who earned them.”At the moment, Jones said Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade is reviewing the ESPWTAA. As Alberta continues to grow and change, he noted so will its legislation.About two-thirds of Canadians report being asked to tip more — and more often — according to a 2023 poll done by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI)..Poll finds most Canadians annoyed with tipping.The ARI said four-fifths of Canadians say too many places are asking for tips these days, including at least three-quarters across all regions and demographics. It said 13% believe customer service has improved as tips have increased. For the last time Canadians ate at a restaurant, the ARI said 23% left a tip of less than 15%. It added 21% left a tip of 20% or more when they last dined out — more than double the rate of those who said so in 2016.
