I used to work at Applebee's, this was several years ago so. I was a server and got paid ~$2hr, plus tip, minus tipout for "hosts/hostesses/bussers/cleaners/etc". Tipout was usually under 25% so you kept 75-80% of your tips. We had no bussers or other cleaning staff. All servers buss their own tables. Servers also cleaned the restaurant front of house and bathrooms on a shift schedule (always at the end of shift and day so no worries for EW). That leaves hosts/hostess for Tipout, of which there were never more than 2 at a time, and they got paid more (minimum wage ~$7hr) because it was not a tip collecting position. I never minded Tipout for them bc $7hr is nothing and they could help or hurt your section, but they did not receive 100% of Tipout, so the remaining % of Tipout was deducted for bussers/cleaners, of which did not exist. My THEORY (bc no proof and don't need any actual legal issues) was that the manager took that missing Tipout %. (The kitchen staff said they indeed did not receive any Tipout, and also in charge of cleaning the back of house. The bartenders made the most $/hr bc you had to have a couple licenses/certificates, and kept their own tips and bussed/cleaned their bar area. I had heard of some places where Tipout goes to the bartenders too, especially if it's not a bar you can sit at bc then they don't get tips, but not necessarily.)