Boss Who Took Part-Time Worker’s Tips Says “Tip Ownership Belongs to the Owner” Amid Growing Controversy

Store Owner Takes Tips Given to Part-Timers by Customers
"Tips Naturally Belong to the Store... Also Provided Meals"

A story about a boss who took away the tip left for a part-time worker (alba-saeng) who kindly served customers has become controversial.

Image unrelated to the article content. [Photo by Getty Images]

On the 2nd, a post titled "Isn't the tip given by customers to part-time workers naturally the property of the store?" was uploaded on an online community. The author, A, a self-employed person, started by saying, "A customer gave a tip to the part-time worker who served them, and I took it, but the part-time worker posted about it online, which caused trouble."

A said, "I always paid the part-time worker at least the minimum wage on payday, and even provided meals sometimes," adding, "If the part-time worker wanted the tip, they could have just asked, but I don't understand why they didn't talk to me and instead posted it online behind my back." He also mentioned that the part-time worker has since quit the job.

A said, "I believe it is right for the boss to keep the tips," and added, "If they wanted the tip, they should have asked me. I would have explained clearly that the ownership of the tip belongs to the owner." He continued, "Of course, if the customer specifically pointed out the part-time worker, then I would gladly let the tip go to them," and lamented, "These days, prices are rising and running a restaurant is getting harder, so part-time workers are also getting very exhausted."

Netizens who read the story responded negatively, saying things like, "Why does the boss take the tip that the part-time worker earned by doing well?", "You should reflect on yourself. Doing business like that will be tough," "The part-time worker must have realized the boss was strange and ran away quickly," and "If customers knew the boss would take the tip, they wouldn't have given it."

Meanwhile, conflicts between part-time workers and store owners over tips continue to arise. In March, netizen B said, "Seven years ago, when I worked part-time at a barbecue restaurant, I received tips from customers, but the boss took them away," adding, "Those customers asked my age and said it was admirable that I was earning pocket money by working part-time despite the tough job at the barbecue restaurant, and gave me 100,000 won as a tip. But the boss said, 'Tips are prohibited in our store,' and took the 100,000 won away." After the story became public, the store owner returned the 100,000 won to the part-time worker and apologized.