Employers in Massachusetts must conform with these state rules regarding the treatment of tips received by employees.
In Massachusetts, employers of employees who regularly receive tips in excess of $20 per month (regulations provide a $30 limit) pay tipped employees $2.63 per hour and credit the difference between the $2.63 and the applicable minimum wage rate toward the requirement, unless the amount of tips actually received by the employee is less than the amount credited by the employer.
This provision does not apply to tipped employees unless they are informed of it by the employer, and the tips are retained by the employee.
Tip pooling is not prohibited by this provision.