TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Loved marina cay but pretty tacky

Last night, Great place and atmosphere had 6 ppl for dinner bill prob about $400 paid cash accidentally dropped some change on the floor and didn't realize it and waitress actually came back and said we were short 15 cents, 20%tip was included, tacky

She may have made that "15 cents" statement to previous customers hoping they didn't have any change and would give her another "greenback" or two (or five).

That being said, is it an open "hire and fire" employee set up in the BVI? Someone posted, long ago, about "up the ladder" influences on who you can hire.

Several years ago, we were at BEYC on a slow, Sunday night. We went into the gift shop and the sole-employee, in her mid-twenties, was listening to gospel music on a small radio. I complemented her on her music. She said ~ "I have to work every Sunday. This music is the only way I get to go to church." How open is the job market for the locals?

Anyone know how much of the tip the server actually receives?? 20% times $400 is $80. Just sayin'

If the server was saying they were shorted 15 cents of their $80.00 tip I agree that is pretty tacky. I would have asked them to explain the shortage in the event that I made an error. If they were truly short the 15 cents after the explanation I would told them that I was sorry and that had I known they were going to be petty over 15 cents on an $ 80.00 tip In would have left a smaller tip to match their gratitude.

The service charge is not optional. Scrub and MC automatically add 20% to the bill. By law, it gets divided up between back and front of house people. The waitresses are making less since this system was implemented (I asked).

What irks me is the hostesses get a cut, and there is one lazy, difficult one at Scrub that I hate to see get our money. She always tries to give us the worst table in the place, and she's too lazy to even refill water glasses.

The BVI does have a bizarre system with regard to gratuities. Eating establishments are not required to have a mandatory tipping policy but if they do there are a bunch of rules. The employees are supposed to have a committee that determines what percentage of the tips each job gets. I wonder if in practice that happens. The employer can also keep to 7.5% as an administrative cost.

60. (1) In an establishment in which a customer pays a gratuity a period of four weeks in accordance with this section.
(2) Where an establishment to which subsection (1) applies has at least five employees, the employer shall establish a gratuity committee (in this section referred to as the “Committee”) for periodic distribution of the gratuity.
Gratuity. which is a specified percentage of the customer’s bill, the employer shall
cause the gratuity to be pooled and distributed among his or her employees in
follows:
(3) The Committee shall consist of three representatives as
(a) one person appointed by the employer to represent the employer;
(b) two persons representing the employees to be elected by the employees within the first six weeks of each year to serve for a term of one year and the results of such election shall be filed with the Labour Department by the 28th day of February each year, provided that where any person so elected is unable for any reason to serve his or her full term, the employees may elect another person to represent them in his or her stead and for the remainder of his or her term and shall file the result of the election with the Labour Department within fourteen days of obtaining that result.

Periods and place of wage payments.
61. (1)
Wages shall be paid at regular time intervals of
(a) not more than two weeks, in the case of employees whose wages are fixed by the hour, day, week or fortnight, or by the piece of work performed;
day of February each year, provided that where any person so elected is unable for any reason to serve his or her full term, the employees may elect another person to represent them in his or her stead and for the remainder of his or her term and shall file the result of the election with the Labour Department within fourteen days of obtaining that result.

(4) From the total amount of gratuity accumulated over every period of four weeks there shall be deducted by the employer the Government tax, if any, on gratuity.
(5) A further amount to be agreed by the employer and employee or if there is a Committee, the Committee but not exceeding seven and a half percent of the balance after the Government tax, if any, is deducted may be retained by the employer for administrative expenses.
(6) The employer shall distribute the remainder of the gratuity among the employees of the establishment on such basis as may be agreed in writing from time to time by the employer and employees or if there is Committee, by the Committee.
(7) The employer prepared a record showing the total amount of gratuity accumulated in each period of four weeks, the total amount of Government tax which is deducted, the amount retained by the employer for administrative expenses, the list of employees to whom the balance is distributed and the amount paid to each of those employees.
(8) Within seven days after the close of the period to which

We had the worst service and experience of my entire time in the BVI at Scrub Island the last time we went....

And I've been here for 8 years! So that is saying something.

Not kidding - it took 44 minutes (I timed it) to get our first round of drinks delivered to the table

VGR - the staff no longer have any incentive to serve you. In fact, they may be demotivated because they are making less money. And if you get the "special" hostess, you'll be sitting in a buggy corner with no view, listening to the pool noise.

I thought I was the only one..I always Scrub Scrub from my itinerary...just dont get the attraction of any part of the place....now a day at Davide's home on the other side of the island was truly memorable.

Absolutely agree with VGR, RM wife and Manpot. No Scrub for us and after a subpar experience at Marina Cay this past trip (just got home last night), we will grab a MC ball and snorkel Diamond but cook on the boat.

I should be clear: the outdoor restaurant at Scrub is a nice spot, and the food is good. We love Marina Cay, and Scrub did a really nice job redoing it. They made a big mistake choosing the government tipping model, and should just go back to tipping to encourage good service.