Hey everyone, need to rant/ask because I'm totally confused. New to posting threads so bear with my messy writing, but this has been bugging me big time — I was literally stunned.

Long story short: I'm a barista, 34, in Rayong, working at a little coffee shop in the market area that’s been open about five years. A new staff joined almost two months ago. They work hard but keep to themselves, sometimes wearing headphones during the shift change around 2:30pm and kinda standoffish.

Our tip box is a small metal box with a cat sticker, sitting beside the espresso machine near a little thermometer we use for milk temp. Staff who switch shifts sometimes drop cash in. I came in for the afternoon shift and noticed the box looked emptier than usual so I sneaked a quick peek (really quick, like 30 seconds). About a thousand baht was gone, only coins left. I asked the morning shift coworker and he said he saw the new person take the box to count and then put it into their personal drawer — the wooden drawer where we keep tools and spare change, the one with a donut sticker on the left corner.

I called over the head manager. They walked up with a pen and a little notebook and said, “If you’re gonna split it, sort it out yourselves, just don’t let it affect work,” then went back to the menu writing like nothing happened. I was floored.

I don’t know if this is a big deal or if I’m overreacting. I’m really confused.

I don’t want the shop vibe to get bad, but I also don’t want someone taking money without a clear agreement. Should I make a fuss or keep quiet? Will it blow up into something worse? Maybe we should set a clear tip-handling rule and have everyone sign that? Or should I talk to the new person one-on-one first, politely but directly: is it okay that you took the box and put it in your drawer, how are we splitting it?

Another idea — when I have time I could put the tip box inside a clear plastic lockbox, or put up a sign saying we count tips at closing at 4pm and it takes less than 10 minutes and everyone should take part. But would that be over the top? I don’t want people thinking I’m making a big deal out of nothing lol.

What do you think I should do? T_T

P.S. Sneaked away from the manager to post this, coming back after.