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Originally Posted by Michelle da Silva, April 4, 2012
During CBC’s The National on April 2, reporter Kathy Tomlinson investigated how tips are distributed at Glowbal Group restaurants after a former employee filed a complaint with B.C.’s Employment Standards Branch claiming she was required to hand over tips to “the house” after shifts. Now, Glowbal Restaurant Group owner Emad Yacoub has fired back, stating that he will take legal action.
“I have been left with no option but to take legal action against the CBC and Ms. Tomlinson to redeem my reputation and that of my business," Yacoub stated in a news release April 3. "It is curious and unfortunate that Ms. Tomlinson and the CBC chose to air a story based on the false accusations of former employees. It is equally baffling as to why Ms. Tomlinson chose to focus on The Glowbal Group when the practice of pooling gratuities is an accepted standard in the hospitality sector in Canada."
The former Glowbal Group employee, Charlotte Zesati, who worked at Glowbal’s steakhouse Black + Blue (1032 Alberni Street) for a week and a half in November 2011, told the Straight during a phone interview on April 3 that she is in the process of obtaining a lawyer and is hoping to go after a class-action lawsuit.
“I can’t disclose who the lawyer is at this time, but we’re looking at hopefully trying to get more voices out from people who worked for this man because you know, I understand that people are scared,” Zesati, who is a single mother, said. “I wasn’t there long enough to get to know the waiters, but I do believe that there’s got to be someone there that will come out.”
Zesati, who moved from California to Vancouver prior to working at Black + Blue, considers herself a career server.
“I’ve been in this industry for a long time. I’ve been a GM. I’ve been a California realtor. I work really hard to make the money that I make, and it’s taken me a long time, where I can consistently sell a certain amount and maintain a very high tip out because I do care for people,” she said.
While Zesati is currently unemployed, she says that she has had job interviews at other Vancouver restaurants, but declined serving positions because the restaurants had similar tipping policies.
“There’s got to be a good honest guy out there somewhere,” she said. “If not, I’m actually considering going into law school at this point.”
Glowbal Restaurant Group owns seven restaurants in Vancouver, including Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar, Coast, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria, Society, and Black + Blue.
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