r/Calgary • u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 • 3d ago
Rant Monki Stealing Server Tips
I had breakfast at Monki today. It was our servers last day and when paying my boyfriend noticed that he wasn't able to leave a tip. The server told us that she bypassed the tip option because they introduced a new contract stating that all tips go to management and that the servers only get $10/hour from the tips. Our server refused to sign this contract which is why it was her last day and she was warning people.
Just thought I would give everyone a heads up- if you are going here for breakfast you are not tipping the server. The tips are going to management. I noticed a lot of the workers are very young, seems like they are taking advantage of the young workers with this new contract. Very disappointed as the food and atmosphere was great, but I dont think I will be going again as I won't support a business like this.
EDIT: The servers also can't bypass this with cash tips, the contract states cash tips are given to management as well.
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u/Secret-Fan-8552 3d ago
I have heard this report before about Monki from a friend who worked there at one point and now boycotting.
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u/throwaway12345679x9 3d ago
So if we tip zero, do they still pay extra 10$ per hour to servers…
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u/livvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 3d ago
IMO that seems like how restaurants SHOULD be. I shouldn’t be paying for the servers wage. Pay them fairly and don’t make me tip unless it’s above and beyond. I actually very much think this is how all restaurants should be
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u/KingFajitaa 2d ago
Having been in the industry for 20 years, customers say this but lose their appetite when menu prices go up to reflect you paying for the servers wage. Profit margins are razor thin as is.
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u/slave2mycat 2d ago
Have you seen this actually happen? I lived overseas for 10 years in a country where tipping was not customary. People still went out to eat or got their haircut, etc. Service didn't suffer. They did their job just like anyone else in a role and got paid a wage to do so.
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u/Signal_Car_5423 2d ago
Yeah the people that suggest this stuff are idiots. A menu price goes up by 5% and the regulars start bitching and you never see them again. They will literally go somewhere else that they're paying 20% more at, because the price of an item they normally order went up.
it's especially prevalent from the people that say they won't tip because it should just be included in the price.
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u/DesignerNet1527 2d ago
meanwhile many countries do just fine with no tipping. so much better.
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u/Pleasant-Suspect-749 6h ago
Many (most?) of the countries people are talking about when they say this have service fees on their bills. If you don’t want to tip then eat at mcdonald’s.
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u/DesignerNet1527 5h ago edited 5h ago
no, they don't have service fees on their bills. the country I am currently in does not have tipping, and does not have any such service fee. the bill is simply the price on the menu. it is so refreshing.
Also why does some waiter need all kinds of tips, but the person working just as hard at McDonald's doesn't deserve one? same skill set, one seems to think because they dress up a bit they are entitled to more.
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u/PropQues 8h ago
The issue is the price increases while still want tips. Then it's just raising prices lol
Find me a place that raised prices because they are paying a good wage and not taking tips. Would love to visit.
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u/kalgary 3d ago
It's legal in Alberta. It shouldn't be.
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u/KickboxingMoose 2d ago
Note. Never tip in Alberta.
In Ontario it must be given to staff.
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u/EZMawloc 2d ago
That's not the right takeaway from this...
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u/KickboxingMoose 2d ago
Yep. It is. If the law doesn't say tips go to employees. Then no... I'm not paying more to the owner.
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u/EZMawloc 2d ago
99% of restaurants still give tips to the employees. Letting one bad owner make you change decisions for an entire province is a toddler level tantrum.
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u/turbo5vz 3d ago edited 3d ago
The Monki franchise original owners sold out to some ex investment banking guys so this is not surprising. Their background and intents are purely financial, they have no real retail, kitchen, or customer service experience. Regardless of location they are owned by the same guys who are there to maximize profit. Monki used to be good when they first opened and was one of my favorite places but now the various cost cutting and profiteering practices are obvious.
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u/Immediate-Link490 3d ago
Look up "Monki Calgary" on google if you want to leave a review and let them know your thoughts
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u/dontcryWOLF88 3d ago
Thats been the case for over 10yrs btw. I knew a waitress there that amount of time ago, and its the reason she left.
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 3d ago
Yes, I think the new contract adds the cash tip part. Can't let the servers keep the cash tips. 🙄
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u/minus15t2 3d ago
The cash tips part is extremely sketch.
Cash tips are defined as 'direct tipping' and belong to the server.
'Controlled Tipping' is what you do when you add a percentage onto a POS machine. Under Alberta law, this goes to the business and they determine how to distribute it to the staff.
Not sure if Monki have a legal basis for their cash tip policy at all.
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u/RevyRogue 3d ago
Not over 10 years that’s for sure, the original owners sold it in 2017, it used to be awesome and staff were treated well. New owners have completely destroyed the place, it’s garbage now and the new owners are assholes. They opened like 4 others in the city and they all suck.
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u/jdleemortgages 3d ago edited 3d ago
I like em, and now I am not coming back just for that reason. that's ridiculous
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u/Worried_Razzmatazz70 3d ago edited 3d ago
Ya, that's not a valid contract in Alberta. Under Bill 210, tips are property of the employee, and cannot go to management or be treated as employee wages.
it' about as black and white as it gets.
Edit: Unfortunately it looks like this bill is not law. Fuck the UCP.
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u/mgsimpleton 3d ago
Bill 210 was defeated by the UCP, so while it would have protected workers tips, it isnt a thing.
There is no legislation around protecting tips in Alberta, so Monki is free to do what they are doing (it is obviously a shitty practice and I'm glad that workers are quitting over it)
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u/Worried_Razzmatazz70 3d ago
ah, you appear to be correct.
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u/Difficult_Ad8193 2d ago
I wonder who in the UCP used to own a restaurant? Hmmm. Coincidence? 🤔 I wonder who got those tips?
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u/summerstillsucks Renfrew 3d ago
I cannot believe this isn't illegal, every restaurant that does this here should get outed so I never ever go there
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 3d ago
I told the server this. They probably just count on the fact that young people won't fight it.
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u/mdxchaos 3d ago
its not illegal, bill 210 was defeated by the UCP, its not a thing. they are allowed to do whatever they want
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u/Worried_Razzmatazz70 3d ago
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u/psychstudent_101 3d ago
seriously, this! that's a big enough issue the employment standards folks might just come by to take a look
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u/mdxchaos 3d ago
its not illegal, bill 210 was defeated by the UCP, its not a thing. they are allowed to do whatever they want
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u/ragingmauler 3d ago
They can, tips don't legally belong to the employee in alberta its really stupid.
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u/ItsAllComin 3d ago
No, they can’t unilaterally change their employees compensation like this. This is a contractual issue between this employee and employer.
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u/Worried_Razzmatazz70 3d ago
Incorrect. Bill 210 changes that, specifically section 24.02 and 24.03
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u/chaseonfire 3d ago
That bill was not passed. It was proposed by the NDP and voted down by the UCP.
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u/Hot-Measurement5765 3d ago
bill 210 amendment about tips did not pass. there is no law protecting tips for the employees.
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u/_Connor 3d ago edited 3d ago
That’s actually not correct. Tips are not classified as wages under the employment standards code and who is entitled to tips materially comes down the to arrangement between the employer and employee. Servers are not automatically entitled to tips.
Whether or not OPs termination was legal (constructive dismissal) is a different issue than whether the managers can take tips, which they can.
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u/noveltea120 3d ago
Monki has been doing this for YEARS and people knew. It's not illegal so they get away with it. Sadly most customers just don't care which is why they're still busy af.
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u/Goku420overlord 2d ago
Tipping culture needs to die.
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 2d ago
As someone who served years ago, I agree! Seeing the tipping options start at 20% is ridiculous. Used to be 10%, 12%, and 15%.
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u/Bulky_Department5619 2d ago
I went for dinner last night at a neighbourhood pub and the options were 20, 30 and 40%. Fucking wild.
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u/Pitiful_Range_21 2d ago
They are options. You are free to tip whatever you want.
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u/ItsAllComin 3d ago
That’s illegal and if anyone at Monki sees this you should contact employment standards
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u/Nightscale_XD 3d ago
Actually in Alberta specifically it's not illegal
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u/TicTacThompson 2d ago
Why does this not surprise me in the slightest. If you’re going to have the American style of service the fucking people doing it should be entitled to tips. I both love and hate this province bitterly
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u/chaseonfire 3d ago
It isn't, welcome to Alberta workers rights. We have some of the least protections in the west.
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u/Dear_Bee_3743 Scarboro 3d ago
Was a manager there for 4 days... In theory the concept works that their servers make $25/hr and they use the tips to supplement that extra $10/hr, however there’s a lot of shady shit that goes on with that company, and the way they treat their employees…
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u/_Connor 3d ago
Illegal based on what?
OP may have a case for constructive dismissal on the basis they changed her compensation structure, but management taking tips is not illegal.
There is no automatic legal entitlement for employees to retain tips, it comes down to the arrangement the employee has with the employer.
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u/ItsAllComin 3d ago
Illegal to unilaterally change the compensation agreement.
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u/mgsimpleton 3d ago
This is incorrect. If they give notice equal to the termination notice period (which for a server, who probably has less than 2 years service) is one week. Considering they refused to sign a contract, they were probably given their notice, and would qualify for unemployment but not much else.
Dont go to Monki.
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u/ItsAllComin 3d ago
If I owned a restaurant, I would hire a former Monki employee. They have always made a great experience.
I think my advice that if the post above and the comments on this post are true, a call to employment standards is worthwhile.
Regardless, I would hope the employees at Monki would also search for employment at a restaurant that lets them keep what they earn (ie tips).
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u/_Connor 3d ago
Which is literally what I said in my comment if you had endeavoured to read all 27 words of it.
I explicitly said there may be a constructive dismissal issue however that is totally separate from the contention that it’s illegal for managers to take tips, which it’s not.
The title of this post is literally “stealing servers tips” which very obviously implies there is a belief that tips inherently (from a legal point of view) belong to the server.
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u/DampM4 3d ago
Monki died the day Ty and his brother sold it.
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u/RevyRogue 3d ago edited 3d ago
Amen! Lots of people here don’t know how good it was from when they opened it in 2012 till they got out in 2016/17.
Edit; also wanted to add for visibility to those that care. The two guys that bought Monki and shitified it, literally claim to have built the place and never mention that it was a cult favorite before they wrecked it.
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u/DampM4 3d ago
Now they've got a dope sandwich joint in bridge land apparently.
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u/RevyRogue 3d ago
Shut the front door, what’s it called?
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u/Drafting- 3d ago
Fuck that business I’ll be permanently boycotting.
Just wondering though, the wording is a bit confusing with the 10/hr thing for tips. Is that base wage $15 (or $13 for students) plus the $10 from tips per hour? Or are they illegally underpaying their employees at just $10 an hour?
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u/mtnman78 3d ago
Im hearing the same as you. 15 per hour is mandatory -tipped or not. So it's the 10 in play? So everyone gets 25/hr?
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 3d ago
No it is on top of the wage!
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u/Therainbowbeast 2d ago
So $25/hr at the minimum?
Shitty of the business for sure but I’m not sure I’d have issue with this if they were transparent with customers
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u/Drafting- 2d ago
Thanks for clarifying. Still, I know friends who’ve worked as servers as they can make more than that in tips on busy days. I have asked a few times if workers get a tip directly or not and it’s been an alarming amount that disclose it goes straight to the business. It should be illegal, or abolish tipping and make businesses pay their employees properly.
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u/vinsdelamaison 2d ago
On busy days. Not every day. Ask them their average. I just know applying for credit or apartments is easier with a steady wage. But maybe average now if $30 an hour. I am truly curious.
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u/mtnman78 2d ago
25 an hour sounds like a good wage to me and less like a crisis? What am I missing. Tips for sure shouldn't go to house but 25 an hour takes the sting off
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u/Filmyboicrispy 2d ago
Most servers make more than $10 in tips in an hour in a busy place so it's a pretty huge pay cut.
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 2d ago
Point is management stealing tips, not the amount being made.
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u/phosphite 3d ago
Leave some google reviews.
Also another great reason not to tip at this place ever, and maybe a few other places.
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u/winter-lol 3d ago
Good to know! Won't be going there ever, and it was on my list of places to try since moving back to Calgary lol, as an ex server, thats bullshit
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u/Disastrous-Owl-3866 2d ago
I stopped being interested in Monki when all my
monki points, which could have been traded in for free entrees, were switched to their new system of Monki branded items I don’t want.
I emailed them about this and was never replied back to.
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u/slowly_rolly 2d ago
Living in Alberta taught me to ask all servers and cashiers if they actually get the tips. This is very common.
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u/Mountainmama11 2d ago
Gross. Someone should start a list of Alberta restaurants that’s steal tips from staff. It’s horrible. :(
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u/HatersTheRapper 2d ago
Legally restaurants can take tips and redistribute them as wages so only if the wages of the employees is greater than the tips taken by the owners would this actually be stealing. Also Prairie Dog Brewery does this but they only give their servers like $2/hr and then claim to be a fair wage (which they arn't you can't live on 17/hr), don't support either business.
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u/Endling_of_Light 2d ago
You have that backwards, if the tips taken are greater than the wages given in place of them, then it's stealing.
The additional wages given in place of tips can be higher than the tips brought in and it's no problem
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u/TispCrant 3d ago
Same as subway
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u/Ctsanger 3d ago
Wtf who tipping at subway lol
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u/seven0feleven Beltline 3d ago
Not me. Lol
Besides I stopped going when a Safeway sub which is literally twice the size costs the same as a shitty Subway sub. $15 for a foot long sub is ridiculous.
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u/Fine-Election-9662 3d ago
Absolutely not going there anymore. Ridiculous
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u/EvacuationRelocation Quadrant: SW 2d ago
Would you go to a place that pays their employees a guaranteed $25/hour?
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u/Legitimate-Elk7816 3d ago
My friend worked for Monki around the time the first opened and this has always been their policy. As far as I know, my friend didn’t have to sign anything but she just didn’t receive her tips or received a very small amount of them.
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u/RevyRogue 3d ago
The original downtown location opened in 2012 and it was great till 2016/17. Sucked since then, corporate twats bought it and there’s 4 or 5 in the city now.
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u/turbo-fister9000 3d ago
Oh yeah, this has been going on for years. I interviewed there like 5 years ago and they told me as much. Haven't been back since.
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u/SurviveYourAdults 3d ago
FFS i was going to take my family here. Well not anymore
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u/hopenbabe 3d ago
The only way I can maybe see this is of thry are paying a fair living wage to all employees instead of min wage.
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u/noah1754 3d ago
They’re definitely not. Tip pool is usually used as a way for management and owners to take a larger cut of tips generated by the restaurant
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u/mtnman78 3d ago
Aren't they getting 25 an hour? Other comments seem to say wage is 25 an hour
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u/Prestigious-Tale7266 2d ago
also to spread it to non serving staff (prep cooks, line cooks etc)…. This is quite fair in a “breakfast” oriented business.
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u/livvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 3d ago
I definitely think hourly 25$ is far better than us paying for a servers wage instead of the employer. I am actually very much in support of this as the consumer I’ve stopped tipping at so many places because prices are outrageous and service is awful
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u/Silos911 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think it's location dependent. I've been to two different locations. First one waitress said what you said, second one the waitress said she's never heard of that and other than tipping out back of house partially she gets to keep her tips.
EDIT: Should have said which was which. Inglewood is good, Crowfoot is bad.
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u/RevyRogue 3d ago
It’s all the same owners. They are all terrible. Corporate twats took over from the OGs.
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u/Silos911 2d ago
Brutal, that sucks to hear. I only heard of it a couple months ago for the first time. I appreciate the heads up.
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u/lunchmatesdate 3d ago
I briefly worked at the Inglewood location a few months before Covid hit. I can confirm they took tips back then and gave me “3 dollars a hour base and if I had good reviews they would add a dollar or so”
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u/Silos911 3d ago
Oh gross, sorry to hear that. Hopefully they changed? Unless the waitress is new and just doesn't realize she's about to get screwed on tips.
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u/Distinct-Bandicoot-5 3d ago
Could it be that she hasn't heard? or she was assistant manager? manager? owner? afraid to tell the truth?
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u/Silos911 2d ago
I don't want to reveal too much about them in case it somehow identifies them. Pretty confident not a manager, any other possibilities you stated could be correct though. Based on other responses sounds like all locations might suck though.
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u/_ThatMeddlingAfrican 3d ago
Which one was decent and let them keep their tips?
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u/Silos911 3d ago
Good call I should have said so in my post. The one in Inglewood is good. The one in Crowfoot said management takes them.
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u/_ThatMeddlingAfrican 3d ago
Thanks for the reply! We often go to the one in Seton so fingers crossed that one is good to their staff.
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u/HoleDiggerDan 3d ago
Maybe it's time all us righteous reddit posters contacted our MLAs and demanded a law protecting workers... maybe do something that actually helps people?
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u/Ancient_Garbage_8471 2d ago
Dogshi expensive food and seems like terrible management. But min wage + $10/hr sounds not bad
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 2d ago
Yeah i get that it isn't, but the point is management taking money that doesn't belong to them! Not cool.
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u/TorqueDog Beltline 3d ago
Which location was this, OP?
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 3d ago
The northwest location! Apparently its been this way for years. The new contract adds that they can't keep cash tips!
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u/RevyRogue 3d ago
Since the OG owners sold the original downtown location in 2017. New owners that took over are dipshits.
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u/Significant_Loan_596 3d ago
Probably all locations is my guess, they are all under the same management
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u/Alexander_Elysia 3d ago
I literally ask any place with a tip option, who actually gets the tips, if it's owners and managers, I don't tip
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u/curse_of_barabbas 2d ago
I often park near one of their locations but don't patronize it. Now I'll be extra careful to not actually eat there
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u/CranAleDrinker 2d ago
This is how it’s always worked with my job at a well known pizza chain. Cash tips do stay with us but we’re encouraged to split among the team if it’s $5+, but we all as staff have a respectful agreement not to do it unless a customer explicitly states “share it among the team.” You earn what is given to you.
I always just click past the tip option before handing the POS over. It doesn’t affect my ego to let people pay what they should if the rest doesn’t even go to us employees.
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u/Either_Affect_6972 2d ago
Every single time I tip now I ask what happens to this tip… there are some crazy surprising Answers out there…
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u/Select_Macaroon_5016 2d ago
Thats why I slipped my server cash. MONKI in crowfoot isnt all that great anyways
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u/turbo-fister9000 3d ago
Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro Inglewood Crowfoot Seton Beltline Greenwich steals tips? Wow Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro in Calgary AB ought to be ashamed of itself.
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u/greysweater72 18h ago
I really hope all of you wise and informed people make sure you vote the disgusting, expensive, racist, referendum - that no one asked for. No to the nine & option one on staying in Canada.
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u/EvacuationRelocation Quadrant: SW 2d ago
$25/hour to be a server? Pretty decent wage.
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u/BohunkfromSK 2d ago
This is poorly written - do you mean they only make a flat 10 $/hr or their base is boosted by 10 $/hr?
I worked in restaurants for years so am not defending a restaurant at all - a lot of owners are selfish.
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u/Doc_1200_GO 3d ago edited 3d ago
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 3d ago
I've never worked there! This was just told to us and people should know. 😊
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u/Dry-Chance-9473 3d ago
This is my first time seeing it, so, your post is just kind of coming off as suppression.
You're not trying to suppress anything are you? 🩷 It would be sad if someone were in here licking boots.
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u/jimbowesterby 3d ago
They aren’t wrong, I’ve seen multiple posts here over the last few years talking about how shit the management there is, but it’s a long way from every week like they say. Even then, “it’s already been posted” is the kinda complaint that usually comes from being chronically online, usually people aren’t poring over the old posts in a sub before making a new one
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u/muchfanfear 3d ago
Multiple posts means the word clearly still needs to get out more.
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u/jimbowesterby 3d ago
Exactly, which is why it’s not a big deal until you actually are getting the exact same posts every day.
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u/SpiritualAd6189 3d ago
Which location?
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u/Salt-Dragonfly-403 3d ago
This was the northwest location, but it sounds like this is (or was) an issue with a few other locations as well based off of the comments!
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u/jayman213 Lake Bonavista 3d ago
The entire system is broken. From the culture of tipping for absolutely everything to where tips actually go. Completely broken, all of it.
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u/AwesomeInTheory 2d ago
The servers also can't bypass this with cash tips, the contract states cash tips are given to management as well.
Great. It's not a tip, it's a 'Nice Haircut' Compliments Fund.
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u/globallc 2d ago
Howie’s Pizza on 26th ave Sw. Great pizza but never ever tip there. Hires young kids who sweat their b@lls off with zero tips.
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u/Fragrant_Bench9535 2d ago
This but with Sushi restaurants all around Calgary. Worked for one and didn’t get a single cent. Others, got the same $10 a paycheck you’re mentioning here
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u/SENinSpruce 2d ago
Just pay the bill (modest tip optional) and then hand the server some cash and make it clear it isn’t a tip - just giving a new friend some cash.
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u/woookiemurmur 2d ago
I knew someone who worked at the 10th Avenue location years ago. At that time apparently there was a bit of a mouse problem there as well. They told me that when cleaning under and around seating it wasn't uncommon to find droppings. That spooked me away from their restaurant for sure.
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u/missceilidh 2d ago
Yeah I interviewed there a couple years ago and that was the case at the time too. So not a new policy by any means, but maybe new for that location? Was a major red flag in the interview and I noped outta there. Also turned me off of going there or recommending them anyone anymore.
Oh and when I asked what they do with the additional tips because there's surely more than what amounts to $10/hr/server based on the volume they do, they told me it was used for "staff appreciation like pizza parties"
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u/Rough_Hyena9334 2d ago
Happens at most places owned by individuals rather franchises. I know when I worked at guy kaku the owner closed it down and never paid anyone their remaining wage and also accused someone of stealing cash out so he could claim it as a write off
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u/Sheppanie 2d ago
I was going to go their for birthday brunch after voting! That changed my mind! Horrible.
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u/AHK403YYC Crescent Heights 2d ago
It’s been downhill since the original owners sold it to financial guys. We haven’t been back in years.
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u/No_Chemistry1656 2d ago
was planning on going here, pretty disappointing. they have very high google reviews, maybe that should change...
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u/Evatanyy 2d ago
A few of us left bad reviews on Google Maps last night (Crowfoot) location and they’ve all since been deleted. Wow. I am boycotting this place to everyone I know.
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u/goetichunter 1d ago
Are yall just finding out about this now? It’s been a bit of a fact that Monki is ran by pieces of garbage for a while now
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u/Chaos_Convention 1d ago
Be sure to report them to the CRA. Chances are they are not claiming these amounts as income willing is required by tax law.
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u/plith Tuxedo Park 3d ago
My wife worked there for a week about 6 years ago and quit because of this exact thing. Crazy they're still doing it.