Well, Aubie, baobabs & baboons can often be found in the same places.... you'll have to 'add' my name to your dictionary.

Perhaps a way to look at the split-tip deal is that 'your' person is getting a share of the money that you tip them - and they also get a share of the other tips, too, so it should even out in the end. At least where my brother works, management don't take the tips, they just divvy them up. In a sense this is fairer to the backroom people - how else can you tip the chef? (And in situations like these, when one person consistently gets low/no tips, the others in the pool make certain that s/he starts making an effort!)

But I don't think that tips should be considered to be part of one's salary.