managers and tips?

Question

I have studied the answers to similar questions but let me be more specific. I am a restaurant manager who bartends during one of his shifts. It is a shift that I would be there anyway and by taking the (often crappy) bar shift I save the owner the expense of employing a bartender for that shift. I also make drinks for the waitstaff. I expect to keep the tips that I receive from "rail" customers and expect nothing from the waiters whose drinks I make. And that's because I realize that I have a better income than they do, notwithstanding the fact that we both have chosen our career paths voluntarily. What I want to know is this. Is there some law in Illinois that specifically denies managers from receiving tips from customers? I would be declaring them and all that so it's not an IRS fraud thing.

Answer 1

Seems to me when you are behind the bar, you are the bartender. Especially if this shift is not one you would normally work in your management capacity.
As the manager though, you must maintain a high level of fiduciary with the owner, or corporate entity.
If your restaurant is privately owned, ask the owner(s), if you are part of a corporate entity, inquire about policy.
If neither of these prevent you from collecting tips, then you should receive them, you are earning them. Remember, tips (gratuities) are something a customer provides at their own discretion based on the level of service they have received.

Answer 2

I don't know of any law in any state that would prohibit working managers/bartenders from not accepting tips. Declaring them certainly makes the IRS a bit happier.
Illinois is a State and the IRS is Federal government.