13% of all Mike Ball tips...Laurence B - Instructor/VideographerOctober 5, 2007 at 00:24:26I have worked on the Mike Ball vessels for eleven years both in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Like all full-time employees for the company, I am happy to have a salary with a month a year paid vacation and sick leave. Indeed 10 % of all credit cards (and not cash tips) go into a social fund. 3% is for credit card fees and 10% goes into the social fund.
The social fund is for dinners, nights out and a big annual event (usually a fun go-kart night during Spoilsport refit). The social fund is used entirely for vessel and office staff and nothing else. The events are fun. I personally love them. It really helps us become a tight-knit operation. Tips are of course a part of any hospitality business.
All crew members work very hard to keep our passengers happy. Tips are a good incentive for the crew and believe me, they are highly appreciated. P.S. The Christmas party is funded by the company, not the social fund. | 
