Should you split tips by hours worked or by role-based points instead?

How hours splitting works

Splitting by hours gives each person a share proportional to the time they worked in the pool period. A full shift earns more of the pool than a short one.

It is simple and transparent, which makes it a natural fit where roles contribute fairly evenly.

How points splitting works

Points assign a weight to each role, so a bartender might carry more points than a barback. The pool splits by points rather than flat time.

This suits houses where roles contribute unequally and you want the split to reflect that difference.

Which fits your house

If everyone in a pool does similar work, hours is clean and easy to defend. If roles differ a lot, points capture that better.

Some houses even combine them, weighting by both role and time, as long as the rule stays consistent and visible.

Communicate the choice

Whatever method you choose, the team should understand it before the first split, not discover it at payout. Surprise breeds distrust.

Explaining the method up front, and showing the math after, keeps the choice fair in practice, not just on paper.