"Chain of service" is a common way to describe who contributes to a guest's experience, and so who can fairly share in tips. It is not one fixed legal test; each law draws the line its own way.
Under federal rules, if your employer takes a tip credit, a tip pool can include only customarily tipped workers. California allows required pooling among employees in the chain of service, and courts there have upheld sharing with kitchen staff. New York lists the eligible jobs, including bussers, barbacks, food runners and hosts who greet and seat. Colorado looks for significant customer-service duties.
In every case, owners, managers and supervisors are out of the pool.
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