Systems and methods for managing gratuities

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for allocating gratuities is disclosed that includes employing at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts: receiving transaction information from a point of sale, wherein the transaction information comprises at least gratuity data for each of a plurality of transactions during an accounting period; receiving employee information from the point of sale, wherein the employee information comprises at least hours worked for each of a plurality of employees during the accounting period; receiving gratuity distribution rules for allocating gratuities among at least a portion of the employees; and determining a gratuity allocation for each applicable employee of the plurality of employees based on at least the received transaction information, the received employee information, and the received gratuity distribution rules. Also disclosed is a computer-implemented system for managing gratuity allocations.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of managing gratuity allocations, comprising:
 receiving, from a business via at least one processor, gratuity distribution information about gratuity distribution rules that determine how gratuities paid by customers of the business are to be allocated to employees of the business;   receiving, from the business via the at least one processor, original employee information that indicates the hours worked by a plurality of employees during an accounting period;   receiving, via a point-of-sale system of the business, original transaction information that includes information about customer sales and associated gratuities paid by the customers in connection with those customer sales during the accounting period;   calculating, via the at least one processor, a first gratuity allocation to the plurality of employees for the accounting period based on the received gratuity distribution information, the received original transaction information and the received original employee information;   receiving, with the at least one processor and subsequent to calculating the first gratuity allocation, at least one of updated transaction information for the accounting period and updated employee information for the accounting period, where updated transaction information includes at least one change relative to the original transaction information and where updated employee information includes at least one change relative to the original employee information; and   calculating with the at least one processor a second gratuity allocation to the plurality of employees for the accounting period using at least one of the updated transaction information and the updated employee information, wherein the step of calculating the second gratuity allocation is performed immediately after receiving updated transaction information or updated employee information.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising reporting to a payroll system for the business, by the at least one processor, the first gratuity allocation after the first gratuity allocation has been calculated. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising reporting to the payroll system, by the at least one processor, the second gratuity allocation and/or differences between the first gratuity allocation and the second gratuity allocation. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of reporting the second gratuity allocation and/or differences between the first gratuity allocation and the second gratuity allocation is performed immediately after the second gratuity allocation is calculated. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving via the at least one processor employee base pay information that indicates the hourly base pay that the employees of the business earn;   calculating with the at least one processor a first payroll for the business that includes the amounts that each of the plurality of employees earned during the accounting period, wherein the amount that each employee earned includes base pay and an allocation of gratuities that was included in the calculated first gratuity allocation; and   reporting via the at least one processor to a payroll system for the business the first payroll for the business.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 calculating with the at least one processor a second payroll for the business using at least one of the updated transaction information and the updated employee information, wherein the second payroll for the business includes the amounts that each of the plurality of employees earned during the accounting period, wherein the amount that each employee earned includes base pay and an allocation of gratuities that was included in the calculated second gratuity allocation; and   reporting via the at least one processor to the payroll system for the business the second payroll for the business.   
     
     
         36 . A system for managing gratuity allocations for a business, comprising:
 a point of sale system that receives information about customer sales and associated gratuities paid by customers of the business;   a computer memory; and   at least one processor which is configured to perform a method comprising:   receiving, via at least one processor, gratuity distribution information about gratuity distribution rules that determine how gratuities paid by customers of the business are to be allocated to employees of the business;   receiving, from the business via the at least one processor, original employee information that indicates the hours worked by a plurality of employees during an accounting period;   receiving, from the point of sale system, original transaction information that includes information about customer sales and associated gratuities paid by the customers in connection with those customer sales during the accounting period;   calculating, via the at least one processor, a first gratuity allocation to the plurality of employees for the accounting period based on the received gratuity distribution information, the received original transaction information and the received original employee information;   receiving, with the at least one processor and subsequent to calculating the first gratuity allocation, at least one of updated transaction information for the accounting period and updated employee information for the accounting period, where updated transaction information includes at least one change relative to the original transaction information and where updated employee information includes at least one change relative to the original employee information; and   calculating with the at least one processor a second gratuity allocation to the plurality of employees for the accounting period using at least one of the updated transaction information and the updated employee information, wherein the step of calculating the second gratuity allocation is performed immediately after receiving updated transaction information or updated employee information.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises reporting, by the at least one processor, the first gratuity allocation to the payroll system for the business after calculating the first gratuity allocation. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises reporting to the payroll system, by the at least one processor, the second gratuity allocation and/or differences between the first gratuity allocation and the second gratuity allocation. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor comprises performing the step of reporting the second gratuity allocation and/or differences between the first gratuity allocation and the second gratuity allocation immediately after the second gratuity allocation is calculated. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises:
 receiving via the at least one processor employee base pay information that indicates the hourly base pay that the employees of the business earn;   calculating with the at least one processor a first payroll for the business that includes the amounts that each of the plurality of employees earned during the accounting period, wherein the amount that each employee earned includes base pay and an allocation of gratuities that was included in the calculated first gratuity allocation; and   reporting via the at least one processor to a payroll system for the business the first payroll for the business.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises:
 calculating a second payroll for the business using at least one of the updated transaction information and the updated employee information, wherein the second payroll for the business includes the amounts that each of the plurality of employees earned during the accounting period, wherein the amount that each employee earned includes base pay and an allocation of gratuities that was included in the calculated second gratuity allocation; and   reporting, to the payroll system for the business, the second payroll for the business.