Bartenders Lose Tips to Managers Who Now Work the Bar
12 posts across 2 communities since Jul 2026; 92% from r/bartenders.
“The restaurant I work at has two wells and one is the service well and the other one is the bar well. So one bartender just does server drinks and the other is serving the bar and our two bar tables. I basically only work the bar well as I prefer it and the other two bartenders…”
“When training a new bartender do you split tips equally, tip them out depending on how much was made, or not share tips at all? And why? This is something I’ve always struggled with and I just trained a girl last week who got fired before her training was even done and I’m going…”
“We run a pooled house across bar and floor and the split gets worked out by hand every week on a laptop behind the bar. Last month two of us came up short and nobody could show where the numbers came from. It took three days to unpick and the trust damage lasted a lot longer…”
Several bartenders are expressing frustration regarding tip pool policies, lack of communication from management about tabs, and feeling undervalued or inadequately trained. There's a sense of unfairness in how tips are distributed and a desire for better support and transparency.
SOURCES (12)
“The restaurant I work at has two wells and one is the service well and the other one is the bar well. So one bartender just does server drinks and the other is serving the bar and our two bar tables. I basically only work…”
“When training a new bartender do you split tips equally, tip them out depending on how much was made, or not share tips at all? And why? This is something I’ve always struggled with and I just trained a girl last week who got fired before her training was even done and I’m going to be training whoever they hire next.. I feel guilty not sharing tips, especially when we get to the part where I have them doing most of the serving, but at the same time I’m training during my regular shifts, so I’m l”
“We run a pooled house across bar and floor and the split gets worked out by hand every week on a laptop behind the bar. Last month two of us came up short and nobody could show where the numbers came from. It took three days to unpick and the trust damage lasted a lot longer than that. Im trying to find out what other bars use so the split is visible to everyone on the same day it is paid. What are you on? submitted by /u/FunAd6672 [link] [comments]”
“I’m a local booze bag. When I go to bars and open a tab it seems like most of the time the next few beers, the bartender like doesn’t go to the machine and add it to the tab. However, when the dust settles, all beers are on the tab. My question; Do bartenders not immediately run over to the machine as like a respect thing or they are just like “ah fuck it I’ll do it later”. submitted by /u/Similar-Narwhal4394 [link] [comments]”
“Asking around for a negotiating tactic I suppose Never been one. At a spot where I can leverage that as a tenured bartender where they (theoretically) have no one else I know how to train. I don't wanna be on salary I split between serving and bartending and I truly am a true blue bartender I just want some perspective of how I can negotiate submitted by /u/Baranade [link] [comments]”
“To get into a little detail I started bartending again because I am going back to College to become a nurse. The new establishment I’m at is huge and is owned by someone who also owns multiple beer stores. I was under the impression that yes CC tips and our hourly wage would be put into a paycheck for us, but thought with cash tips we take home every night. However come to find out today that the establishment takes all tips including cash, doesn’t let the bartenders count it instead one of the”
“I would love some input and best practices on this. We have a bar and the usual 4-5 bartending staff tip pool under 1 employee # so they can all access the tabs easily. Guests order from the bar. All 1 cash drawer, no issues. We have big events bands/ vendor markets where we have satellite bars. I usually don't do cash at those, just handhelds, but want to give it a try. I plan to have 2 or 3 satellite bars with 2 bartenders each and 1 cash box at each bar. What is the best way to apply to 1”
“Hello all! New place has an awesome team, but I'm afraid the tip-out isn't fair. I have a ~20 person bar top I run solo. On opening shifts I'll also have a few tables in the bar area. I'm responsible for bussing and washing all glassware in the bar area. The busser is supposed to bus the entire restaurant, bartop included, but I usually bus the bartop in order to get customers seated faster (bartop is first come, first served). I have a bus tub I'll fill and take to the dish”
“We just hired a new bar manager and they decided hes also going to have 4 bartending shifts a week. He is 100% a bar manager and not a lead. He's doing the ordering. Making the schedule. Has admin shifts and even has a different outfit on behind the bar (like a vest and tie). According to ai and north carolina law, this is 1000000% illegal. We do a pool obviously every shift with multiple bartenders and a split pool of course. Before I call the department of labor, what's the loophole? T”
“Yo! I just started bartending a couple months ago. I’ve had a singular customer order 2-3 drinks plenty of times. I never batted an eye about it until the other night when I ordered a drink for myself and my friend. The bartender said “sure, whos the other one for?” And I said my friend, and pointed in his direction and all was cool (she knows him). Well today, I had a guy come in and order 2, so I asked “sure who’s the other one for?” He got real puzzled and said “uhh okay hang on” and his frie”
“I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. Started at a restaurant bar and while normally I expect to not be including in tip pool while “in training” but they had me bartending by myself without another bartender on day one. The whole restaurant FOH tip pools. So I have 40 hours on my check and was only paid $93 in tips. When I brought it up I was told I don’t get tips when “training” I replied training means I’m being trained by someone whom I’m following around. I worked an 11 hour double s”
“For context I had plans to meet my friends out at a restaurant bar. I got there first and ordered a drink, the bartender asked if I wanted to leave the tab open and I said yes. 20 minutes later 2 of my friends showed up and ordered drinks, but they didn’t know I had a tab open. There was never any communication with the bartender that the drinks would be on my tab (but even so no big deal). I also noticed when they ordered their drinks she had brought 3 separate receipts. After about an hour Whe”