Mexican-style Wahaca is latest food chain to be accused of unfair tipping policy

Wahaca waiter says he was effectively being asked ‘to pay rent’ to work at the restaurant, which was founded by MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers

First it was Pizza Express, then Las Iguanas, Côte and Jamie’s Italian. Now Mexican street-food chain Wahaca stands accused of taking staff tips.

At the restaurant chain, founded by former MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers, staff are required to hand over 3.3% of card sales and 0.075% of cash sales at the end of every shift, regardless of how much money they have made on tips. One waiter said that, because the levy was charged on sales and not tips, this meant he was losing more than 50% of his tips every week. He said he would rather pay into the pot himself than have the company control the system. Another waiter interviewed by the Observer said he was effectively being asked “to pay rent” to work at Wahaca.