$20,000 in tips withheld from senior care workers

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Senior care employees and management at The Ridge at Lansing are at odds over a tip received from a grateful family member of a former resident.

Business owner Keith Granger’s 85-year-old uncle was a resident of the facility until he passed away last month, and he wanted to honor the facility’s staff for taking care of him. To do so, Granger left a letter and a check for $500 to each of the facility’s employees that took care of his uncle—for a total of $20,000.

However, management intercepted the checks and letters and said the employees couldn’t keep the money, and the staff wants to know why.

6 News spoke to workers at the facility under the condition that they remain unidentified.

“We’ve never been asked to give anything back before,” said one member of the staff.

Workers at the facility say that management told them that they must return the money or they would lose their jobs.

“You consider that bribery?” asked another employee. “We can go, we can get jail time for taking it, and you’re threatening to fire everybody that works there, so now everybody is scared because now they have to find jobs to take care of their kids and all that other stuff—and you’re trying to fire somebody for a check that’s written in their name?”

Normally, tipping is not allowed in senior care facilities, as it can raise concerns about bribery or unfair treatment. However, these tips were given to the workers after Granger’s uncle had already passed away.

“Our resident is no longer with us, he’s no longer a part of the community, and then just given a thank you and his departure,” said another staff member. “We didn’t really see a problem with it, nor is that in the handbooks.”

A spokesperson for the Granger family tells 6 News that they still want the money to go to the workers, but management told staff members they had a different plan for the $20,000.

“Management were saying that we, like, they were going to throw us a party and keep the money and donate it to the community,” said one employee.

Workers say they shouldn’t be forced to give away anything, especially when it was obviously something personal meant for them.

“They wrote us letters and we still, we didn’t even get to be able to see the letters—like our first and last names are on that envelope and we did not even get to receive or open the envelope,” said a member of staff.

A lawyer for The Ridge At Lansing told 6 News that tips remain against their policy and they’re sticking to it.

The Michigan Wage and Hour Division told 6 News that the company “probably” broke federal and state law by keeping the checks.

Workers are meeting tomorrow to talk about what to do next. They’re considering filing a formal complaint against management, and may even join a union.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.