Under established policy, Sandals Resort staff members are prohibited from personally collecting and retaining tips from guests. Instead, any gratuities given must be taken to the front desk, where they can be distributed appropriately.

Prime Minister Browne highlighted the critical role that tipping plays in the hospitality sector, underscoring its significance for employees who frequently depend on these additional earnings as a considerable portion of their overall income.

“I remember a staff called and told me that they just got quite a nice tip from someone and it burned their heart that they had to bring it to the front desk because things were tight. But the policy is no tips”, Browne said.

He said Sandals should leave staff with any tips that they collect.

“I hope they would reconsider. We have discussed this at the Cabinet level, and we are thinking of going to Parliament to pass legislation. I hope we don’t have to do it,” he said.

Browne said the hotel does not have to encourage tips but no one should be fired for accepting tips.

He also called on the support of the trade unions on the matter.