Harrods restaurant staff ‘lose £5,000 a year because store won’t pass on tips’

THEY may be serving caviar costing up to £200, but Harrods staff claim they are being shortchanged by their employer.

Workers at the Knightsbridge store’s 16 restaurants and cafes claim the company keeps up to 7 per cent of the service charge on each bill.

United Voices of the World (UVW), the union which represents waiters and kitchen staff at Harrods, claims staff miss out on up to £ ,000 a year each. It called on workers to protest outside the store on Saturday.

A social media posting promoting the demonstration said: ‘One of the wealthiest stores in the world is withholding tips from the low-paid staff in its restaurants. Harrods keep up to 7 per cent – that’s around £ ,000 from each member of staff. NO MORE! 100 per cent of the service charge must go to the workers.’

It is understood that there are 483 members of kitchen and waiting staff working in the store’s restaurants and cafes.

UVW general secretary Petros Elia said: ‘Customers expect the service charge to go to staff and that’s where it should go. If Harrods feels the need to retain a percentage they should explain why.’

Harrods told The Guardian the company operated a ‘system in which the service charge is shared out only among the staff who have accepted a cut in basic pay.

A spokesman said: ‘Harrods is taking steps to improve the current system through which it distributes its service charge, to ensure it best serves our employees and is completing a detailed review into the existing scheme.

‘As this is an ongoing review, we are unable to provide further details on the distribution. However, employees will be informed of the details of the new system as soon as the review is complete.’

It comes after celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr admitted he keeps the tips at his £212-a-head London restaurant.