This is all over the news in France: the Dutch company, 2theloo, which has the toilet concessions in many French and Belguium train stations, doesn't let employees keep tips. All tips go to the company. So, a six-year veteran Dame Pipi who had been cleaning our toilets, floors, and washbasins at the Montparnasse station was fired because she picked a one-euro tip off the counter. She was fired for theft, unable to get unemployment benefits, no recommendation. And she's not alone: another employee was fired for taking 2 breaks of fifteen minutes, another for being late. All these cases are being examined.
So how can we thank the hardworking employees of 2theloo? Not with a tip...only a smile and a big Merci!
https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/economie-et-social/300423/toilettes-un-euro-dans-les-gares-les-methodes-cradingues-de-l-entreprise-2theloo
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4228 posts
And so many people believe this behavior only happens in the US. I will remember never to tip in any bathroom in French train stations. I won’t be going to Belgium so no worry there.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7653 posts
The article seems to be behind a pay wall, but we get the general drift of it.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14612 posts
Good grief! I wonder how you can tell if a bathroom is managed by this company? In the "olden" days there was a saucer or bowl for tips, lol.
Thanks for this, Bets!
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10580 posts
Incredible! The people who make the least are treated the worst.
Posted by
Amsterdam
572 posts
Oh that is terrible. Not only do they keep their employee's tips for doing, probably, one of the worst jobs ever. But they fired her for theft when she take a whole euro. And she is left without benefits. One of the company's administrators should come down from their perch and do that job for a day. Or an hour.
This is one place where I do not mind tipping!
Posted by
Paris
10104 posts
Disgusting behavior by 2theloo. A good notice to me of a company to avoid.
That poor woman.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1569 posts
To those that speak Dutch, 2theloo is actually a pretty funny name.
Posted by
Virginia
848 posts
I don't know if it is still the case, but I did use a toilets operated by 2theloo in the Covent Garden Market, it cost £1. Peaceful private stalls with a sink to wash up and absolutely sparkling clean.
Posted by
OP
L'Occitanie, France
10592 posts
Since English is ubiquitous as a lingua franca, it's clever in France too without being vulgar.
2theloo was marked at the entry when I used one recently in Nîmes. I wonder if we could leave the tip in the stall, or do they have cameras there, too.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14612 posts
"I wonder if we could leave the tip in the stall, or do they have cameras there, too."
I hope to heck they don't have cameras in the stalls!
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
7832 posts
Well, I'm glad the cases are being examined, and I really hope that the examiner finds in favor of the employees. That's utterly absurd!
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5444 posts
I don't know if it is still the case, but I did use a toilets operated by 2theloo in the Covent Garden Market, it cost £1
It is still there but the price is at least £1.50 now. It remains the only toilet 'shop' operated by 2theloo in the UK after 9 years. They don't have a captive market as there are other cheaper toilets nearby as well.
Posted by
City of Seattle
1945 posts
More like 2theboooooooo!