Manager Gives His Favored Employee Higher Holiday Tip

Location: New York

I'll try to keep it short since this is a simple issue. I have been working at this company for over 4 years and every year around Christmas time the customers pool together money for a holiday tip. Not all of them tip and it's not required by any means, it's just out of the kindness of their hearts. This is not a restaurant we don't get tipped regularly by any means.

Anyway the issue I am having is I got my holiday tip of $300 which I was happy with I mean money is money. Well as I was talking to another co-worker about the holiday tip (this guy has been with the company for 9 months) and he tells me wow you got so little I thought you would get more than me. And I said well we're the same rank so whatever I don't care but, then he mentions another co-worker received 400. This guy has been with the company for 1 year compared to my 4.

This confused me and I asked how did they do the split this makes no sense. He responded with I heard it was by seniority (which is how its usually done more time = more holiday tip). I asked my GM and he said my department manager did it. I ask my department manager and he tells me the GM did it.

My suspicions are with the department manager who is the main guy I report to. I say this because our GM was just recently hired about 2 months ago and I've met him like 3 times max.

After I talk with my DM (department manager) he then calls in the employee who received the extra cash and asked him why did he tell people what he got. He then tells him I gave you and another employee extra because you guys work overtime sometimes (this whole statement is absolute bullshit) I know these 2 employees that he gave the extra money to in fact the reason why I know about this meeting is because I am close to both of these guys but I guess my boss never realized how close we were and they told me all the info.

These 2 guys do not pick up overtime and leave early every single night. Yes they work their shifts but I have more training and duties than them. I work overnights by myself which includes extra tasks and being left completely alone on facility grounds. So i am trained in everything that they do plus quality control checks which only overnighters do. We all still have the same job title but mine just adds on more responsibilities. Plus I pick up overtime continuously especially because we have been short staffed for like 6 months now.

I'm not really sure what to do here or if I can do anything. I've had issues with this manager before and the GM did tell me that it seems like I was the only one that was shortened. The only difference between me and everyone else who works there is that I am a woman and everyone else is a man. Not saying that has anything to do with it but this has been a reoccurring issue with this manager.