P&O Cruises to withhold passengers' tips unless crew hit performance targets

[Mooloo]

Just read an article in the Observer today that some of the ship staff threatened by this are a paid basic salary of 75p an hour. Does this mean that P&O will be returning tips if they don't go to the staff?

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/29/cruise-firm-performance-bonuses-tips

 

Crew on British cruise holidays who are paid a basic salary of as little as 75p an hour face having extra tips from passengers withheld unless they hit performance targets.

 

The boss of P&O Cruises said the move was part of a package to "make crew more responsive" and offer protection as tips dry up in the economic downturn.

 

Bonuses will be held back in part if customers' feedback ratings do not exceed targets, some of which stand at 96%. Cabin stewards whose attitude was ranked below 92% by customers will forfeit an entire bonus payment worth approximately 15% of their basic salary.

[Sandielle]

I think that would just be for P&O UK. Here in Aus, there is no "compulsory" tipping any more and I can't see that they could take away money that is given directly to the waiters/stewards. The "You made a difference" cards we fill in go towards their promotions. :)

[The_Big_M]

It looks like some details aren't correct there as, on one hand it says that it's a win-win as it is to cover passengers who don't tip so is a guaranteed bonus based on performance ratings, but then another section said it's subject to autotips being paid.

 

It can't be both.

 

Regarding the queston above, I'd expect the balance would be paid as it is now; this is just to ensure a portion of it is available to the top performers rather than everyone getting the same share regardless of "performance" (I say it that way as "performance" is always subjective with some passengers being more demanding/rating differently to others, and some situations easier and some harder.)

[rugbypopsie]

Wouldn't it be fairer and more incentive if the best workers ie. those with the highest customer satisfaction records received a bonus!

 

p.s. always fill in the "you made a difference" cards if you were impressed it really helps the staff get promoted.

 

Sue