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Cafe Linnea, which launched its business with a no-tipping policy roughly one year ago, says the system is just not working. Starting in August, the restaurant returned to the “industry standard,” and resumed a tip-based wage system.

An announcement on Facebook reads: “While we still support the living wage concept, the current model has proven to be untenable and our team has decided this is the best way for the restaurant to move forward.”

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The announcement continues: “We will be lowering prices on the menu to reflect these changes and we thank you for your patience while we switch tracks. We are fully committed to creating a fair workplace for our employees and customers while still providing the absolute best in service, atmosphere, food and drinks. The tips our employees receive will be fairly distributed between the service staff and the kitchen.”

Reached by phone for further comment, restaurant co-owner Garner Beggs declined to elaborate, except to say the no-tip policy turned out to be a “massive challenge.”

“It was an experiment and we said, from the outset, we may reverse course and that’s what we decided to do. The restaurant industry is incredibly difficult as it is, and it added another layer of difficulty.”

lfaulder@postmedia.com

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