The survey of 2,000 consumers, from tax advisors RSM UK, revealed that 57% think tips should go to waiting staff, either directly to those that served their table (36%) or shared among all waiters (21%).
However, 24% - almost a quarter - said tips should be shared with all restaurant staff, including chefs, bar staff and managers.
RSM’s survey also revealed that 11% of participants believed that the head office should be included in tip distribution, jumping to 21% among London consumers.
Viewpoints differ among generations, with 42% of Gen Z wanting tips to go only to the staff that served them compared to 31% for millennials.
In contrast, 17% of Gen Z and 16% of millennials said tips should be shared with all employees, including the head office.
The long-debated subject has seen various restaurants implement their own approaches, with some ensuring tips go to all staff in both front of house and back of house roles.
“Nearly 60% of consumers think tips should go solely to front-of-house staff, showing just how much they value excellent service,” says Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK.
He adds, “It’s surprising to see more consumers don’t think tips should be shared with all restaurant staff, in particular chefs, but there may be an element of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ at play here.
“For a restaurant to work seamlessly, it’s very much a team effort between all employees, including those that are less visible.”
As well as the tipping legislation under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which came into effect on 1st October 2024, the government published non-statutory guidance for employers related to the fair distribution of tips.
The code of practice clarifies that all workers involved in directly providing service to customers should be considered in the distribution of tips, but the application of this principle varies depending on the specific circumstances of the industry and employer.
“Hospitality operators continue to grapple with the government’s tipping legislation, despite it coming into force on 1 October 2024,” says Moseley.
“While businesses are expected to distribute tips “fairly”, this is not clearly defined and therefore open to interpretation, leading to disputes between owners and staff.
“At a time when the industry is already facing various challenges from food inflation, low consumer confidence and significant tax rises, this adds unwanted complexity to a sensitive area, especially as the requirements will change again with the implementation of the Employment Rights Act.
“The industry is in desperate need of tailored support to preserve jobs and help boost economic growth led by consumers in 2026.”
In October 2025, around half of consumers reported that they didn’t trust restaurants to pass on tips, according to the digital tipping platform URocked.
The survey also found that a quarter of employers admitted to making no changes since the law came into effect in October 2024, and among restaurant staff, 24% reported seeing no changes in how their employers handle tips.