Originally Posted by
kipper
Not necessarily true. A lot of servers are required to review their tips with management before they can leave, as they are expected to tip out bussers, bartenders, and/or host staff based on their total sales, not their tips. If they receive a big portion of tips via credit card, which is often added to their paychecks, not cashed out that night for them, they may leave with little to no cash, as the cash goes to tipping out others.
In my experience (25 years ago, admittedly), servers were tipped out on a nightly basis, even on credit card tips. The checks were all reconciled at the end of the night and the tips came out of the cash drawer from the restaurant. Then the servers tipped the "runners" (glorified busboys), the bartender(s) and anyone else they deemed worthy. So the servers weren't "fronting" any of the tips.