Bill 210 – Protecting Workers’ Tips: Our Response to Proposed Legislation

As a voice for Alberta’s hospitality industry, the Alberta Hospitality Association (AHA) is sharing our position on Bill 210 – Protecting Workers’ Tips, a private member’s bill currently under review by the Alberta Legislature.

We understand the spirit behind this bill and recognize the public interest it has generated. Protecting the income of hospitality workers is an important issue, and one we know Alberta’s restaurant community takes seriously.

The AHA supports the intention of Bill 210. The vast majority of restaurant owners across our province already respect the principle that tips belong to employees. In our experience working with operators across Alberta, it is clear that retaining or withholding staff tips is not a common practice. In fact, for many businesses already navigating staffing shortages and rising operational costs, engaging in such practices would undermine their ability to attract and retain quality employees.

One critical piece of the proposed legislation is the continued allowance of tip pooling, a long-standing industry practice that ensures fair distribution of gratuities among front-of-house and back-of-house staff. From dishwashers to line cooks to bussers, successful service is a team effort and tip pooling reflects that reality. We are encouraged to see this practice remains supported within the bill.

Should Bill 210 move forward, the AHA is committed to working with our members to ensure they understand and meet any new documentation or reporting requirements for employee-determined tip pools.

We want to emphasize that the Alberta hospitality industry is made up of passionate, hardworking people. This bill may be a response to concerns that exist somewhere, but it does not reflect normal practices in Alberta. The operators we represent value their teams and are committed to fair employment practices.

We will continue to monitor the development of Bill 210 and share updates and resources with our members as needed.

For questions or feedback on this topic, please contact the Alberta Hospitality Association here.