i work at a sushi restaurant where we make good tips. on a busy night we will finish out with over around 200 in tips between 2-3 people. at the end of the night we each get 50 if its 3 of us, and ~75 if its only 2. basically my owner takes a percentage of our tips every day even though she herself is not serving.
my first response is that its her restaurant and she can do what she wants.
is this legal?

I'm just up the road in WY, and I can tell you that it sounds damned fishy to me. Call your local labor department, your city attorney, someone who can check up on that. Then, quit that joint and go work for a reputable restaurant.

CO Dept. of Labor and Employment contact info. (http://www.coworkforce.com/contact.asp) I would recommend contacting the Labor Standards division, as they oversee wage issues.

I'm just up the road in WY, and I can tell you that it sounds damned fishy to me. Call your local labor department, your city attorney, someone who can check up on that. Then, quit that joint and go work for a reputable restaurant.

CO Dept. of Labor and Employment contact info. (http://www.coworkforce.com/contact.asp) I would recommend contacting the Labor Standards division, as they oversee wage issues.

see i love the job though, my two closest friends out here work there and everyone else who works there is cool as hell. so im not looking to quit, im just looking to make some more money. i plan on just talking to my boss after i find out if it is illegal, that way i dont get her fucked, and still get to throw some more money in my pocket.
thanks though

I don't they can even force you to pool tips. I mean, its a personal transaction that happens between two people outside of the debt owned to the company.

any of it go to bussers/ the sushi chef?

I can't speak to your jurisdiction, but pooling tips is not all that uncommon. It would seem to me it probably has roughly the same legal status as limiting commissions.

I can't speak to your jurisdiction, but pooling tips is not all that uncommon. It would seem to me it probably has roughly the same legal status as limiting commissions.

This is correct. Besides the customer almost nevers tell you if he/she is tipping you or the restaurant.

any of it go to bussers/ the sushi chef?

yes money goes to the busser, dishwasher and the sushi chefs. but then there are tips taken by the owner as well. and there also is no sign saying "tips are not solely for the server and may be distributed at owners will." which ive been told must be up in a conspicuous place somewhere in the restaurant to make what she is doing legal. i think it evens out with the tips seeing as how much sake we drink at work :P