GIG WORKER TIP THEFT COMPLAINT

SECTION 1: COMPLAINANT INFORMATION

Full Legal Name: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

City, State, ZIP: _______________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________________________

Platform Account/Worker ID: _______________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________

SECTION 2: PLATFORM INFORMATION

Platform Name: _______________________________________________
☐ DoorDash
☐ Uber Eats
☐ Grubhub
☐ Instacart
☐ Postmates
☐ Amazon Flex
☐ Shipt
☐ Caviar
☐ Other: _______________________________________________

Legal Entity Name: _______________________________________________

Headquarters Address: _______________________________________________

SECTION 3: NATURE OF COMPLAINT

TYPE OF TIP VIOLATION

Check all that apply:

☐ Tip Skimming/Theft
Platform takes a portion of customer tips before passing to worker

☐ Tip Credit Abuse
Platform uses tips to subsidize base pay rather than adding to it

☐ Deceptive Tip Practices
Customers believe tips go to workers but they do not

☐ Tip Pooling Violations
Tips shared with managers or non-tipped employees

☐ Hidden Tip Adjustments
Tips reduced or adjusted without disclosure

☐ Delayed Tip Payment
Tips not paid promptly or withheld

☐ Tip-Based Pay Reduction
Base pay lowered when tips are high

☐ Missing Tips
Tips shown to customer but not received by worker

☐ Tip Misrepresentation
False statements about how tips are handled

☐ Other: _______________________________________________

SECTION 4: DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VIOLATION

A. HOW TIPS SHOULD WORK

Based on platform representations and customer understanding:

Platform's Stated Tip Policy:
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Customer Expectation:
Customers are led to believe that tips: _______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

B. HOW TIPS ACTUALLY WORK

Actual Tip Practice:
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Discrepancy Between Stated Policy and Practice:
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

C. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

Example 1:
- Date: _______________________________________________
- Order/Trip ID: _______________________________________________
- Customer tip amount (if known): $_______________
- Amount received by worker: $_______________
- Discrepancy: $_______________
- Description: _______________________________________________

Example 2:
- Date: _______________________________________________
- Order/Trip ID: _______________________________________________
- Customer tip amount (if known): $_______________
- Amount received by worker: $_______________
- Discrepancy: $_______________
- Description: _______________________________________________

Example 3:
- Date: _______________________________________________
- Order/Trip ID: _______________________________________________
- Customer tip amount (if known): $_______________
- Amount received by worker: $_______________
- Discrepancy: $_______________
- Description: _______________________________________________

(Attach additional examples as needed)

SECTION 5: TIP THEFT CALCULATION

A. ESTIMATED LOSSES

Time Period of Claim: From _______________ to _______________

Method of Calculation:

☐ Direct Evidence Method
Based on specific instances where tip amounts are known:

☐ Statistical Estimate Method
Based on patterns and available data:

• Total orders/deliveries during period: _______________
• Average tip per order (industry standard): $_______________
• Tips actually received: $_______________
• Expected tips: $_______________
• Estimated stolen: $_______________

☐ Tip Credit Subsidy Method
For platforms using tip credit model:

• Total orders during period: _______________
• Base pay received: $_______________
• Tips received: $_______________
• Guaranteed minimum (if any): $_______________
• Tips used to reach minimum: $_______________
• Tips that should have been additional: $_______________

B. TOTAL CLAIM AMOUNT

SECTION 6: LEGAL BASIS

FEDERAL LAW

Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. § 203(m)):

The FLSA prohibits employers from keeping employee tips. Under the 2018 amendments and 2021 DOL Final Rule:

• Tips are the property of the employee
• Employers cannot keep any portion of tips
• Employers cannot require tip sharing with managers or non-tipped employees
• Employers cannot use tips to offset wages owed

Violations Include:
☐ Keeping any portion of worker tips
☐ Using tips to pay wages owed
☐ Requiring invalid tip pools
☐ Managers participating in tip pool

Penalties:
- Liquidated damages equal to stolen tips
- Civil penalties up to $1,100 per violation
- Criminal penalties for willful violations

STATE LAW

CALIFORNIA

☐ This complaint is made under California law

Labor Code § 351:
- Tips are sole property of the employee
- Employers cannot collect, take, or receive any gratuity
- No deductions from tips permitted
- Criminal misdemeanor for violations

Penalties:
- Full amount of tips owed
- Interest
- Waiting time penalties
- PAGA penalties (representative action)

California-Specific Violations:
☐ Tip skimming
☐ Invalid tip pooling
☐ Manager participation in tips
☐ Deductions from tips
☐ Other: _______________________________________________

MASSACHUSETTS

☐ This complaint is made under Massachusetts law

Tips Law (M.G.L. c. 149 § 152A):
- Service charges and tips belong to wait staff and service employees
- Employers cannot retain any portion
- Strict liability for violations

Penalties:
- Treble (3x) damages
- Attorney's fees
- Criminal penalties possible

Massachusetts-Specific Issues:
☐ Service charge violations
☐ Tip pool violations
☐ Management participation
☐ Other: _______________________________________________

NEW JERSEY

☐ This complaint is made under New Jersey law

Wage and Hour Law:
- Tips belong to employees
- Cannot be used to meet minimum wage
- Invalid tip pools prohibited

NEW YORK

☐ This complaint is made under New York law

Labor Law § 196-d:
- Tips are property of the employee
- Employers cannot retain any portion
- Service charges must be distributed

NYC Delivery Worker Protections:
- Additional transparency requirements
- Tip disclosure mandates

Penalties:
- Unpaid tips plus interest
- Liquidated damages
- Civil penalties

SECTION 7: EVIDENCE

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

☐ Platform Payment Records
- Screenshots of earnings statements
- Payment history downloads
- Pay stub equivalents

☐ Customer Communications
- Messages showing tip amounts
- Receipts showing customer tip
- Screenshots of tip confirmations

☐ Platform Communications
- Terms of service regarding tips
- Help center articles about tips
- Marketing materials about tips
- Changes to tip policy notices

☐ Comparative Evidence
- Before/after policy change comparisons
- Pay statements showing tip credit model
- Evidence of guaranteed minimum calculations

☐ Third-Party Evidence
- News articles about platform tip practices
- Regulatory findings or settlements
- Academic studies on platform tipping

WITNESS INFORMATION

☐ Other workers who experienced same violations

☐ Customers who can verify tip amounts

EVIDENCE LIST

SECTION 8: PRIOR COMPLAINTS AND RESPONSES

COMPLAINTS TO PLATFORM

☐ I have complained to the platform about tip practices

Date(s) of Complaint: _______________________________________________

Method of Complaint:
☐ In-app support
☐ Email
☐ Phone
☐ Social media
☐ Other: _______________________________________________

Platform Response:
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

PRIOR REGULATORY COMPLAINTS

☐ I have filed complaints with regulatory agencies

Agency: _______________________________________________
Date Filed: _______________________________________________
Case Number: _______________________________________________
Status: _______________________________________________

SECTION 9: REQUESTED RELIEF

FROM PLATFORM

☐ Full payment of all stolen/withheld tips: $_______________

☐ Statutory penalties and damages: $_______________

☐ Interest on unpaid tips: $_______________

☐ Cessation of deceptive tip practices

☐ Clear disclosure of actual tip practices

☐ Prospective change to ensure 100% of tips go to workers

☐ Written confirmation of tip policy compliance

FROM REGULATORY AGENCY

☐ Investigation of platform tip practices

☐ Order requiring payment of stolen tips to all affected workers

☐ Civil penalties against platform

☐ Injunction against continued violations

☐ Public disclosure of findings

SECTION 10: FILING OPTIONS

INTERNAL COMPLAINT TO PLATFORM

Send To:
- Platform legal department
- Platform worker support
- Platform executive team

REGULATORY AGENCIES

Federal:
☐ U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- File online: dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints
- Call: 1-866-487-9243

☐ Federal Trade Commission (deceptive practices)
- File online: reportfraud.ftc.gov

State Labor Agencies:

☐ California: Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner
- File online: dir.ca.gov/dlse/howtofilewageclaim.htm

☐ Massachusetts: Attorney General's Office, Fair Labor Division
- File online: mass.gov/ago

☐ New Jersey: Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- File: nj.gov/labor

☐ New York: Department of Labor
- File online: labor.ny.gov

☐ Other State: _______________________________________________

LEGAL ACTION

☐ Individual lawsuit
☐ Class action (if not barred)
☐ Arbitration demand
☐ PAGA action (California)

SECTION 11: DECLARATION

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of perjury:

1. The facts stated in this complaint are true and correct to the best of my knowledge
2. I have personally experienced the tip violations described
3. I have not received the tips that are owed to me
4. I have attached true and accurate copies of supporting documents
5. I am filing this complaint in good faith

Signature: _______________________________________________

Printed Name: _______________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________

SECTION 12: DEMAND LETTER TO PLATFORM

(To be sent with or before regulatory complaint)

[DATE]

[PLATFORM LEGAL DEPARTMENT]
[ADDRESS]

RE: Demand for Payment of Stolen Tips
Account ID: _______________________________________________

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am a worker on your platform and I am writing to demand immediate payment of tips that have been unlawfully withheld from me.

Violation: [Describe specific tip theft practice]

Amount Owed: $_______________

Time Period: From _______________ to _______________

Under federal law (29 U.S.C. § 203(m)) and [applicable state law], tips are the sole property of the worker. Your practice of [describe violation] constitutes unlawful tip theft.

Demand: I demand payment of $_____________ within fourteen (14) days of receipt of this letter.

Consequences: If payment is not received, I will:
- File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor
- File a complaint with my state labor agency
- Pursue all available legal remedies including statutory damages
- Join or initiate collective/class action litigation

Sincerely,

_______________________________________________
[Signature]

_______________________________________________
[Printed Name]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Earnings statements showing tip discrepancies
☐ Screenshots of customer tips vs. received amounts
☐ Platform policy documents regarding tips
☐ Communications with platform about tips
☐ Calculation spreadsheet
☐ Prior complaint records
☐ Other: _______________________________________________

NOTES

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________