Papa John's is looking after its employees by pioneering cashless tipping

Papa John's, one of the UK's leading pizza delivery brands, is pioneering cashless tipping across its UK stores as it aims to recruit over 1,000 new team members due to an uplift in sales and new openings. In a collaboration with TiPJAR, the UK’s leading cashless tipping platform, they seek to bring fair and transparent tipping to its teams, and to enable customers to leave tips electronically.

Through the TiPJAR platform, it only takes as little as 5 seconds to leave a tip when using Apple Pay or Google Pay and there is no need to download an app. Once collected, tips are split fairly based on who was working at the time the tip is received and paid out to each member of the team independently.

Justin Gilbert, senior operations director Papa John’s UK confirms: “Cash transactions are reducing and as a brand we wanted to address the issue of tipping in the fairest way possible as we grow to support our valued teams.

Following a successful trial over the past year in 20 of our stores across the UK, we are now investing in a phased roll-out of TiPJAR for the benefit of all our team members. It’s a great way for our customers to show their gratitude and means they know tips are going straight to those who’ve just hand-made, baked and delivered their favourite Papa John’s pizza.”

Papa John’s customers will be directed to a specific team’s tipping URL though a variety of TiPJAR tech that facilitates tip collection. By using QR Codes, digital links and an in-app integration, customers can leave a tip via the Papa John’s order tracker, email confirmations, in-store posters and even stickers on pizza boxes. 

This use of technology enables customers to tip team members directly, meaning that every tip is wholly owned by the team themselves (unlike credit card tips and service charge which has to pass through the business). The system is automated, meaning there is no-one “deciding” how tips are split. This transparency will give Papa John’s customers the confidence that their money is being handled how it should be, and will go to whom it was intended.

Ben Thomas, CEO of TiPJAR confirms: “TiPJAR exists to help tipped workers earn more and ensure 100% of tips go directly to staff, so we’re really excited to welcome over 5000 new users to our platform though this partnership. We are proud to support Papa John’s as industry pioneers, providing a fairer way for the company’s team members to earn more money and an easy way for customers to say: ‘thank you’ for great pizza and service at the same time.

“Papa John’s is the first large food franchise we have worked with, and this collaboration proves that hospitality is evolving towards a more fair industry that promotes employee support and transparency surrounding tips.”

Papa John’s now has more than 500 stores in the UK and also partners with non-traditional venues such as holiday resorts, sports stadiums and even pubs to ensure customers can enjoy all the fun of the Papa John’s experience with friends and family where and when suits them.

Justin Gilbert continues: “We are particularly recruiting for new drivers, but our continued expansion means more employment opportunities are created at every level. As well as the benefits of the new tipping system, all new starters have full scope and use of our dedicated Pizza Academy training system containing a suite of training modules on various aspects of the business. 

It means, any new team member may join in-store and map out a career pathway by acquiring the relevant skills and experience to become a team leader or store manager and beyond.”

For those interested in joining Papa John’s there are opportunities at every level in locations across the UK. For more information about Papa John’s recruitment go to their website. 

For those interested in running a high street Papa John’s franchise or a non-traditional venue, we offer incentives plus world-class support, comprehensive training, and national marketing. As a franchisor, the Company supplies all the assistance needed to get your successful Papa John’s up and running.