What are the most common tip pooling mistakes restaurants should avoid making?

Inconsistent rules

Changing the split rule from night to night is a fast way to lose trust, because staff never know what to expect. Consistency is the foundation of fairness.

Set the rule, write it down, and apply it the same way every shift to avoid this trap.

Hidden math

When only one person knows how the split was figured, suspicion grows even if the math is correct. Secrecy reads as unfairness.

Making the breakdown visible to everyone removes the doubt that hidden math creates.

No records

Splitting on paper that gets thrown away leaves no way to answer a later question. A missing record turns a small dispute into a standoff.

Automatic, saved records prevent this by keeping a trail behind every payout.

Ignoring the rules

Assuming an old practice is compliant, or copying another venue, can lead you into a rule you did not know applied. This is costly to get wrong.

Confirm the current rules with a professional, since a tool handles the math but not the legal question.