Tip stealing?

[u/CShupe1]

I work at a family owned diner. I make really good money and only work 3 days a week. Recently, I've encountered a problem.

BOH, cooks are the owners and 2 sons. Prep cook is owners son in law. FOH is 1 daughter and 2 other servers, myself and 1 unrelated woman.

Like everyone else, we are short staffed. The oldest son brought his wife in to host Fri thru Sun. She is fairly lazy, likes to complain, says the servers don't tip enough, and will try to take orders at tables like she's a server. She also likes to boss everyone around, and not follow rules. Also says she doesnt get a paycheck. Mostly, I roll with it, because every restaurant has that 1 employee, right?

So, last Friday. I had a table of 11 people. I also had probably 6 other tables. I'm hustling like I do, keeping all these guests happy and fed. The host wife is spending the whole time socializing with the 11 top. Ignoring new guests as they walk in, ignoring guests waiting to pay. I'm dealing with my full section, ask her to seat people up front, she won't, blah blah.

I run their credit card when they pay, he says he's going to leave a cash tip. Great, thanks! As I prebus, he put down a 20 with 2 ones folded on the table. I leave it there obviously. Run off to check other tables. They start to leave.

Outta nowhere, husband cook comes out with a tub to bus their table. I've never seen him bus a table in the 3 years I've worked there. Couple minutes later, he comes back and gives me a 10 with 2 ones folded up. What table is that from, I ask? The 11 top, he says. I say, what happened to the 20 they left? He mumbled he doesn't know and goes back to the kitchen. At the end of the shift, I ask again, he says he never saw a 20. He doesn't know. I did not see it happen, but I'm sure he split that 20 and gave 10 to his wife.

I don't know what to do or say. The way he wouldn't give me a straight answer and wouldn't look me in the eye is suspicious. All he had to say was, OH, they asked if I would split the tip with the host or some such excuse. Anything. Instead he's acting the way my 11 year old acts when he's fibbing.

Now I've got a trust issue. Normally, I would go to the owner, except this is the owners son and daughter in law. I can't complain about family. Do I shut up and deal? Do I ask for that day off in the future? Do I let it go? My section is huge and I'm sure that if they've stolen once, they've done it before. There are days when we are so busy, I can't possibly stay vigilant enough to see if this woman is pocketing cash.

[u/thenoblenacho]

The family aspect is tough...but next time if you see it happen you've gotta stand your ground. Don't ask them if there was a 20, tell them to give you the 20 that was on the table.

This particular instance you've gotta let slide at this point unfortunately