Minimum wage baker takes their crooked boss down after catching them pocketing 75% of the bakery's weekly tips: 'Boss says we aren’t entitled to the tips we made'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Nov 5, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Working for $15/hour, you are absolutely entitled to any tips you earn on your shift. Although some bosses consider tips a reward for good service, this shady employer saw the tip jar as a pocket-liner for themselves, stealing 75% of the tips that her employees earned. However, after getting caught red-handed, I doubt she'll be robbing her workforce for much longer. 

Back in my college days, I worked at a bakery. Contracting burns from the convection oven, boiling dishwashing water, and my failed caramel experiments, I learned a lot about the hazards of the kitchen, especially for a baker. Although I spent most of my time in the back fluffing dough and sifting powdered sugar, once the shop was open, I was the face of the front of the house. Despite bags under my eyes that revealed my exhaustion from my 3 AM alarm, I threw on a chipper smile and my customer service charm, because ultimately it was the tip jar that boosted my paycheck every two weeks. 

I'm not saying that tips paid for my groceries and my electrical bill every week, but they were non-negligible. That's why it's downright infuriating that a boss, who's not even legally allowed to participate in tips, would walk home with the hard-earned cash from the tip jar. Robbing your employees is just the wrong thing to do…

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  • My boss (the owner) is taking most of our tips and I feel like this should be illegal
    via _sundavr_
  • Female baker making pastries
    via bluegame

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I work for a family owned cafe in Texas, including me there is 2 full time employees plus the owner. We have two high school kids that help out for a couple hours on the weekends but that's it. My
    via _sundavr_
  • coworker and I were both hired as bakers, and have been fighting since hired to be given tips since we are expected to not only run the whole kitchen but also work
    via _sundavr_
  • up front making coffees and helping customers. After finding out I was looking for other jobs my boss suddenly remembered she wanted to give us tips. But the way she
    via _sundavr_
  • Proud baker and her croissants
    via bluegame

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Baker making pastries
    via bluegame

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • disburses the tips is really odd. She pools all the tips for the week and gives everyone a small percentage and takes the rest. For example, this became a noticeable problem because
    via _sundavr_
  • the other baker and myself were the only ones working on a Sunday for the whole day. Square told us on the app that combined we made $140 in tips that day, cut to the following day it now says we each got $10 in tips. I
    via _sundavr_
  • asked the boss about this and she said that we only are allowed to get a certain percentage of that total tips that week and she goes in and has to manually change it every day. So from what
    via _sundavr_
  • she said, we get a percentage, and then she and the two high school kids also get a percentage of it even though they weren't working that day. Boss says
    via _sundavr_
  • that we're lucky to be getting tips and that they are a bonus and we aren't entitled to the tips we made that day, followed by basically saying if I bring it
    via _sundavr_
  • Tired baker rolling up her sleeves
    via bluegame

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • up again she'll take tips away completely. I just want to see if anyone has any clarity on this, if they've experienced similar or this is more common that I think it is.
    via _sundavr_
  • Edit to add some more info based on responses from the comments: I make $15/hr and so does the other baker. Technically I am labeled as the Kitchen Manager and the other baker is a foh
    via _sundavr_
  • manager, and the owner is in the system as a general manager. The owner does work up front making coffees and taking order most days of the week, it
    via _sundavr_
  • just seems insane for her to be taking 75% of the tips made. And I have been looking for a new job for 10 months with no offers.
    via _sundavr_
  • Baker making dough in the kitchen
    via bluegame

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • BriVan34. As bakers, you need to get those tips somehow. If you file against them, you'll be sure to be axed for being, (insert reason here)...otherwise....bake\make\p repare food for your family and take it home as a "percentage"
    via BriVan34
  • of daily business. Eye for an eye....You're not gonna change anything at that diner...as owners will find another who'll fall in line....good luck
    via BriVan34
  • GatePorters ⚫ This is illegal, but you're in Texas. You basically have no rights in the workplace. They WILL fire you and they MOST LIKELY will not face repercussions.
    via GatePorters
  • LustfulEsme ⚫ Your boss is crooked.
    via LustfulEsme
  • PoorManRichard ⚫ Bosses/owners/managers cannot participate in tip pools. This isnt just a Texas law, its a federal law. Violation of the FLSA.
    via PoorManRichard

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boss tips bakery manager baking baker tipping pay back supervisor Horrible Bosses money
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