Tip Distribution

Owned by Rose Eliff (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Aug 12, 2021 by Alger AlamaVersion comment
5 min read

Summary

Optional feature - Account feature toggle required

An account feature toggle must be enabled for your account to use this feature: Payroll Tip Distribution

Please contact your NorthStar representative to have this feature enabled for your account.

The tip distribution feature allows accounts to determine how to best allocate and distribute tips for their business. Settings include: 

  • Type of tips included in distribution 
  • Calculation frequency
  • Percentage tip distribution per job type
  • Site selection
  • Ability to reopen pay period by site (Reopened pay periods are closed on the Tip Distribution report.) 

To access Tip Distribution in ECM, go to Users > Tip Distribution. 

General (tab) 

  • Enable tip distribution
  • Select calculation frequency
  • Select the types of tips to be included. Click Save to save selections. 


Item Description 
Enable tip distribution and reporting Enable the tip distribution feature for the account 
Calculate distribution by: 

Select to calculate distribution by pay period or by day. 

  • Pay period - Tips are divided based on the number of hours worked for the period. 
  • Day - Tips are divided based on the number of hours worked each day. 

Tips to include (select all that apply): 

Select the tip types to be included in the distribution calculation. (Charged tips and Gratuities are selected by default.) 

  • Charged tips - Credit, gift and all other tips added to payment at the point of sale 
  • Gratuities - Automatic or manual gratuity charges added to checks 
  • Declared tips - Tips declared at clock-out on time clock 

Jobs (tab) 

Select the jobs that will be included in tip distribution. To distribute tips by specified jobs:

  • Select the Distribute tips by job setting
  • Enable the jobs to be included
  • Select how to calculate the percentages to be distributed by job, evenly or custom.
    • If Custom, enter the percentage to be distributed to each job. Tip distribution percentage must total 100%.
  • Click Save to save changes. 


ItemDescription 
Distribute tips by job 

Default: Not selected 

  • When not selected, tips are distributed to all users, regardless of job. The percentage distribution setting is not enabled. 

  • When selected, the percentage distribution setting is enabled. One or more jobs in the grid must be enabled for tip distribution. 


Calculate % distribution to job(s) 

Select to determine the percentage to be distributed to each selected job: 

  • Evenly (default) - Tips are evenly distributed between enabled jobs. When distribution is not exactly even, the remainder is added to the last active job record. 


  • Custom - Allows for differing tip distribution percentages to be set by job by clicking in the Tip Distribution % field and entering a value. Values must total 100%. 
Cancel Changes Click to cancel changes and reset to the last saved version. 
Search

Search by Job Name or Description 

Grid columns
  • Enabled - Select to enable a job to be included in tip distribution 
  • Tip Distribution % - Displays percentage. If Custom option is selected, click in the field to open a text box and enter the percentage. 
  • Job Name - From Jobs
  • Description - From Jobs 
  • Total tip distribution % entered: Total is shown at the bottom. Total must equal 100%. 

Sites (tab)

Tip distribution is enabled by site. Select the sites to be included in tip distribution. The date each pay period was closed is shown. The Reopen Pay Period column only appears for a user with admin rights; otherwise, this column doesn't appear on the grid. 

ItemDescription
Cancel ChangesClick to cancel changes and reset settings to default. 
SearchSearch by site name. 
Grid columns
  • Site Name 

  • Pay Period Closed -  Last pay period end date that was closed. (Pay periods are set in Store Hours.)  
    Note: This is not the date the last pay period was closed; it's the pay period end date that was last closed. Also, this may not be the most current pay period. If one of more pay periods were reopened (no longer closed), this pay period date would reflect the most current pay period that remains closed.  

  • Reopen Pay Period - Only shown for an Admin user. An Admin user can click to reopen the pay period as needed for time record adjustments. When Reopen is clicked, the value in the Pay Period Closed column is set to the previous closed pay period end date. 

    Scenario:
    • Manager needs to make a time record adjustment for a closed pay period. Admin must reopen the closed pay period to allow manager to make adjustments. 
    • Admin: Clicks Reopen on Tip Distribution. Pay Period Closed is set to the previous closed pay period end date. 
    • Manager: Adjusts time record(s) on the app on the POS device. 
    • Manager: Closes the pay period as follows: 
      • Go to Reports > Tip Distribution
      • Select the Pay Period End Date
      • Click Close Pay Period to reclose the selected pay period. 
  • Timestamp - The date/time that the pay period in the Pay Period Closed was closed.
    For example, if pay period end date 3/26/21 was reopened to make a time record adjustment, then closed, the timestamp would show the date the pay period end date 3/26/21 was closed after being updated. 

  • Active - Select to enable/disable tip distribution by site. 

Tip Distribution Report

Supplemental PowerPoint for Tip Distribution