Miller & Carter | Steakhouse chain criticised for demanding payments from staff

Miller & Carter, the steakhouse chain owned by Mitchells & Butlers, is facing a wave of criticism for a controversial staff payment policy that has come under scrutiny during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The restaurant chain has been accused of demanding payments from waiting staff, amounting to up to two per cent of the sales they serve, causing a significant reduction in their income.

The disputed payments were originally intended to facilitate the sharing of tips with chefs and other back-of-house workers. However, the Unite union and waiting staff argue that this system has led to instances where earnings from tips and service charges fall below the amount owed to fellow workers. In a particularly alarming case, a worker claimed that the money they were asked to hand over pushed their pay below the minimum wage during a shift.

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This new tip-sharing scheme has been rolled out in dozens of Miller & Carter outlets in the past month after staff participated in local votes to determine how service charges, cash, and card tips should be distributed.