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WEBVTT AND BARTENDERS. KCRA 3’S BRANDI CUMMINGS EXPLAINS WHAT IT MEANS FOR CUSTOMER REPORTER: THEY ARE T PEOPLE YOU MAY NEVER SEE IN A RESTAURANT. THE DISHWASHERS, PREP AND LINE COOKS. CONSIDERED BACK HOUSE STAFF AND NOW THEY ARE FRONT OF MINE. A BROKEN AND FLAWED SYSTEM. REPORTER: IT’S A SYSTEM HE IS WORKING TO FIX. >> WE FEEL THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS INCLUDE THE KITCHEN STAFF. REPORTER: RIGHT NOW CUSTOMERS GET THE OPTION TO LEAVE GRATUITIES FOR SERVERS AND BARTENDERS. IN 2019 THAT WILL CHANGE OF THIS RESTAURANT. >> WE MADE SURE TO MAKE THAT IMPACT A MINIMAL IMPACT. REPORTER: 2.5% OF YOUR TOTAL WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE ADDED TO YOUR BILL FOR ONLY THE KITCHEN WORKERS. THEN THAT REGULAR TIP WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN ALL EMPLOYEES. RIVERA ADD -- REVERE ANTICIPATES IT WILL ADD A 10 TO THE PERCENT INCREASE IN PAY -- 10% INCREASE IN PAY. CUSTOMERS WE SPOKE TO DON’T MIND PAYING THE EXTRA GRATUITY. >> THEY ARE DOING AS MUCH WORK TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE GOOD. THEY DESERVE MORE MONEY AND TIPS. >> SHE IS VISITING THE U.S. FROM LONDON AND SAYS THEIR TIPS ARE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BILL. >> I THINK IT’S A GREAT WAY TO REMEMBER THAT WE KNOW SOMEONE IS BACK THERE. REPORTER: IS AT LEAST ONE OTHER RESTAURANT THAT ALLOWS TIPS FOR THE BACK HOUSE STAFF. MAGPIE HAS THE OPTION ON THE RECEIPT. THAT RESTAURANT OWNER SAYS THEIR BACK HOUSE STAFF GET ANYWH

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A Sacramento restaurant is making a big change to the way money gets shared between employees. Starting next year, kitchen workers at Hook and Ladder on S Street will get tips in addition to the servers and bartenders. “The system is broken. It’s a flawed system that needs to be corrected,” Hook and Ladder general manager Rafael Jimenez Rivera said. It’s something he and the owners of Hook and Ladder are working to fix. “We feel that the best way to do that is to include the kitchen staff,” Rivera said. Earlier this year, when Congress passed its budget bill, tip-pooling was added to allow restaurants in certain states like California to pool tips with kitchen staff.Right now, customers get the option to leave gratuity for servers and bartenders. Beginning Jan. 1 that will change at the Midtown restaurant.“In our research, we made sure to make that impact minimal impact,” Rivera said.Here's how it'll work: 2.5 percent of the total will automatically be added to the bill for only the kitchen workers. Then, the regular tip customers often give will be split between all employees. Rivera anticipates the tips will add a 10 to 15 percent increase in pay for kitchen staff. “We'll have a higher standard, a higher quality of food, the kitchen staff will be held more accountable in their execution of products,” he said. Several customers said they don't mind paying the extra gratuity. “The people who work behind the scenes are doing as much work to make the customer experience good as the people who are serving, potentially, so I think they 100 percent deserve more money and tips,” Kristen Kozlowski said.Carla Josephson, who is visiting the U.S. from London, said tips are already included in the bill in the U.K.“It’s very easy to kind of just think about the front of house servers and people who are interacting with you personally," she said. "So, I think it’s a great way to make sure that we all just remember that somebody is back there. That somebody is cooking the food and bringing out lovely food for us to eat."Magpie Cafe on 16th Street also allows tips for the back-house staff. The option has been available to customers for more than three years. Restaurant owner Janel Inouye said on average their back-house staff gets anywhere from 3 to 5 percent additional pay through tips.