I live in Florida and I work as a server and I get $8.05 an hour. It s a small-ish restaurant with only 2 workers on a shift at a time (1 server and 1 busser/dishwasher). It s a buffet so I don t give the customers their checks. They have to go up to the front desk and wait for the manager/owner. When they get the bill there is a choice to tip. But if the customers do tip, I don t get it. The manager keeps it for himself. Is this legal even though I get paid minimum wage? He doesn t clarify that he keeps the tips for his restaurant so I m guessing most guests think the tip is going to me and the other person.

Tips are the property of the tipped employee. The employer is embezzling your property. Research your state laws on wages laws and find a subtle way to introduce your employer to the reality of being sued for every penny you are owed since you started working there, plus everything ever stolen from other tipped employees for the past 5 years (or whatever statute of limitation there is).

Not exactly.some countries treat keep tips as a costom.

In your case the tips are not your own.

Learn local labor laws as they vary greatly.

You are paid the minimum wage of a non-tipped employee, so yes they can keep tips.