Below Min. Wage For Food Servers (salary, work, home)

[neo]

I agree with tipping... up to a point. If I'm dining in (in other words, someone has to bring me my food and clean up after me, thus meriting more money) and the service is good, I will tip at or near 15%. 20% - 25%? Give me a break! Why not just make it 100% and then these greedy restaurant owners wouldn't have to pay their employees anything. I went in to pick up a take-out order from a local restaurant once, and I was actually asked if I wanted to tip!! For what?? Ringing me up??

The whole tipping thing is getting out of control in this country. There are too many people willing to work for ridiculously low wages in the hope that the customers will make up the huge difference. And there are too many people who throw money around as if it grows on trees in order to feel important or whatever.

The only way this problem is going to get solved is if restaurant owners are forced to pay their employees at least standard minimum wage, not this $2-something an hour crap.

[bb5745]

Of course, tipping is optional, but even for a to-go order, remember that you wouldn't necessarily be tipping the cashier for 'ringing you up' (in an appropriate scenario, they most likely would be tipping out the kitchen help). Don't forget all that goes into preparing your to-go meal (work that you don't have to do): some lady probably arrived at the restaurant at 8am that morning to start chopping the vegetables and preparing the sauces for YOUR meal; another guy arrives at 8 and spends his entire day preping, and marinating meats, or preparing pastas or breads (or whatever depending on the type of restaurant) for YOUR meal; another kid arrives at the same time and cleans the parking lot from the night before, unloads and stocks the daily shipment of food off the truck from the distributor; then there are most likely several line cooks who spend thier day sweating over hot grills and stoves; then there's the assembly crew that puts it all together and boxes it up for you; then don't forget about the guy that washes dishes all day (not just used plates from the restaurant, but the same cutting boards and pots and cutlery that were used to prepare YOUR meal); and then there's the crew that cleans up the kitchen at midnight. And I can almost gaurantee you that none of these folks makes more than 7 dollars and hour, most probably make $5.15. So, after taxes, they might walk home with maybe $32 to $45 per day (not enough to live on). Meanwhile, you just spent maybe 20 dollars in a brief moment, for your meal, or 40 dollars for dinner for two, and you can't just through em a couple extra bucks?!??!???! What if every person who got a to-go order gave $3 to the kitchen...well, that'd be a nice little bonus for somebody that REALLY needs it, coming from people that probably don't.

[neo]

Originally Posted by bb5745

Of course, tipping is optional, but even for a to-go order, remember that you wouldn't necessarily be tipping the cashier for 'ringing you up' (in an appropriate scenario, they most likely would be tipping out the kitchen help). Don't forget all that goes into preparing your to-go meal (work that you don't have to do): some lady probably arrived at the restaurant at 8am that morning to start chopping the vegetables and preparing the sauces for YOUR meal; another guy arrives at 8 and spends his entire day preping, and marinating meats, or preparing pastas or breads (or whatever depending on the type of restaurant) for YOUR meal; another kid arrives at the same time and cleans the parking lot from the night before, unloads and stocks the daily shipment of food off the truck from the distributor; then there are most likely several line cooks who spend thier day sweating over hot grills and stoves; then there's the assembly crew that puts it all together and boxes it up for you; then don't forget about the guy that washes dishes all day (not just used plates from the restaurant, but the same cutting boards and pots and cutlery that were used to prepare YOUR meal); and then there's the crew that cleans up the kitchen at midnight. And I can almost gaurantee you that none of these folks makes more than 7 dollars and hour, most probably make $5.15. So, after taxes, they might walk home with maybe $32 to $45 per day (not enough to live on). Meanwhile, you just spent maybe 20 dollars in a brief moment, for your meal, or 40 dollars for dinner for two, and you can't just through em a couple extra bucks?!??!???! What if every person who got a to-go order gave $3 to the kitchen...well, that'd be a nice little bonus for somebody that REALLY needs it, coming from people that probably don't.

Using the same logic, I should be tipping the cashier in the grocery store, too. What about the guy who has to go in an 5 AM to stock the meat in the deep freeze I later ate, what about the janitor who had to clean the floors I walked on... etc., etc., etc. And why do fast-food people get short shrift? According to you, they should definitely be getting tipped.

Tipping for take-out is ridiculous, and so is tipping at exorbitant amounts, especially if the service was only average or below average. But, as I said, there are those in this country who are fueling it. A tip is deserved when extra service is rendered, such as bringing your food out to you and cleaning up after you - but not otherwise. Sorry, but cleaning parking lots and cutting boards and the like simply don't cut it. What, you don't think your local 7-Eleven has to clean their parking lot? You don't think trucking services are used to bring in your Big Gulps and chips?

Botton line: Restaurant owners need to start paying their employees a reasonable wage. As it is now, they're basically trying to guilt-trip their customers into paying most of their employees' wages. Nice for them, huh? They get to pocket all that money they should be using to compensate their hard-working employees. It has got to stop. We need to get laws passed to force these crooks to pay their employees.

[elfyum]

People tip because they can afford it, because they've worked in the biz, or because they want/need special attention. If you can afford to pay $1000 a night for a hotel room , what the hell is giving someone a 20 (or more!) on top of the included 20%?!
I guess some people just can't imagine being that rich! I'm certainly not, but I can certainly imagine it!

[bb5745]

I agree with that logic...I tip the kwik-e-mart cashier, the janitor that cleaned the floor, the fast food guy, the lady that takes my money at the toll both, I tip the cigarette machine for giving me my cigarettes, and I put an extra nickel in the soda machine for keeping my cokes ice cold.

But seriously, I agree, that the bottom line IS that hard-working employees SHOULD be paid more by employers. I however, wouldn't feel right going into an eating establishment, where most of the employees work for tips, spend some substantial money on a meal, and not give a tip. Especially when I know that many people worked very hard to prepare that food. And, I'm not going to stand there at 7-11 or McDonalds and wait for my 53 cents change from a ten dollar bill. Perhaps, I may be 'fueling' this overtipping movement, but I don't think me tipping a few extra people is going to make their hourly wage go up...call it karma or pay it forward or whatever, I think it's just the right thing to do.

Originally Posted by neo

Using the same logic, I should be tipping the cashier in the grocery store, too. What about the guy who has to go in an 5 AM to stock the meat in the deep freeze I later ate, what about the janitor who had to clean the floors I walked on... etc., etc., etc. And why do fast-food people get short shrift? According to you, they should definitely be getting tipped.

Tipping for take-out is ridiculous, and so is tipping at exorbitant amounts, especially if the service was only average or below average. But, as I said, there are those in this country who are fueling it. A tip is deserved when extra service is rendered, such as bringing your food out to you and cleaning up after you - but not otherwise. Sorry, but cleaning parking lots and cutting boards and the like simply don't cut it. What, you don't think your local 7-Eleven has to clean their parking lot? You don't think trucking services are used to bring in your Big Gulps and chips?

Botton line: Restaurant owners need to start paying their employees a reasonable wage. As it is now, they're basically trying to guilt-trip their customers into paying most of their employees' wages. Nice for them, huh? They get to pocket all that money they should be using to compensate their hard-working employees. It has got to stop. We need to get laws passed to force these crooks to pay their employees.

[ladyapisaac]

Hey Scranbarre,
I may be your twin in Hawai'i, working at City Mill. Do you have "Secret Shoppers" there, too? I have to wonder what kind of regime hires spies to come in under cover to test your limits. Too bad we don't have the opportunity to complain about people who can't even speak english and get angry when you don't understand. If your hispanic, it's not you... that I could work around. It's the many Asian and local "pidgin" speakers who get most upset.

[Savetuba]

Originally Posted by 30yrrestaurantworker

I've been working in restaurants for almost 30 years in southern Ca. and am just shocked to know that in Az. and many other states in this country, tipped waiters and waitresses get paid a wage of $2.13 per hour. That is a crime as far as I am concerned and I think a majority of people are ignorant to this law.

Haven't read the entire post, but AZ law states the employer is required to pay X amount per hour and only meet the minimum wage reqs if the tips recieved + wage is not equal to min wage laws. Get stiffed on the tip? just report the total of tips and your employer will make up the difference. So you can say you are only earning $2.30 per hour, but after tips (assuming you got $30 in tips that day and worked for 8 hours) $18.40+$30 = $48.40 VS $6.65/hr *8 = $53.20, a $4.80 difference that the employer makes up for on that day.

Assuming you made $240 in tips during a 40hr period. That is $332 plus tips vs $266 on minimum wage. That would be like earning a $8.30 wage.

I Fail to see a problem.

[bucksfan45]

Originally Posted by elfyum

My suggestion to anyone working in the food service industry is to work in a HOTEL!!! Not only do they pay a higher hourly, (where I worked it was 5/hr for room service server, 7/hr in the restaurant - because they were slow alot, but when they weren't,...) but they all have good benefits! Also people usually tip well, especially in an upscale hotel. True in a restaurant too, but in a hotel they're usually on vacation, so...!

Oh - to the person who said, "If you can't advance working in restaurants or retail there is something wrong with you" you should understand that not everyone WANTS to "advance"!!! I would NEVER move into management even though I easily could/should because I will NOT work the 50+ hours a week required to be in management! Money isn't everything you know!
Some people actually value their TIME...Who do you think works when someones calls out? The manager! Who does the work when it's not getting done or done properly? The manager! Uh uh. No WAY! Not doing it!
You can keep your money, I'll keep my piece of mind thank you very much!
But you really shouldn't pass judgement on people like that.
I don't think I'd want you as my manager!

"money isn't everything" Why then post a response like you did?
I have no sympathy for someone working in the food service industry who complains about their wage.
I tip like everyone else before you jump on me.
I have never understood how this type of wage compensation still hangs around in this modern society.
Form a union,demand your rights and work out an equitable solution that will allow the owner and the help to peacefully co-exist.
I am puzzled by tipping still.
Mcdonalds--No Tip
Burger King-No Tip
TGIFridays-Tip
Dunkin Donuts-No Tip
Starbucks-Tip
Sorry if I sound harsh,I feel if your unhappy with your current lot in life perhaps a different career path is in order.

[bucksfan45]

Originally Posted by bb5745

Of course, tipping is optional, but even for a to-go order, remember that you wouldn't necessarily be tipping the cashier for 'ringing you up' (in an appropriate scenario, they most likely would be tipping out the kitchen help). Don't forget all that goes into preparing your to-go meal (work that you don't have to do): some lady probably arrived at the restaurant at 8am that morning to start chopping the vegetables and preparing the sauces for YOUR meal; another guy arrives at 8 and spends his entire day preping, and marinating meats, or preparing pastas or breads (or whatever depending on the type of restaurant) for YOUR meal; another kid arrives at the same time and cleans the parking lot from the night before, unloads and stocks the daily shipment of food off the truck from the distributor; then there are most likely several line cooks who spend thier day sweating over hot grills and stoves; then there's the assembly crew that puts it all together and boxes it up for you; then don't forget about the guy that washes dishes all day (not just used plates from the restaurant, but the same cutting boards and pots and cutlery that were used to prepare YOUR meal); and then there's the crew that cleans up the kitchen at midnight. And I can almost gaurantee you that none of these folks makes more than 7 dollars and hour, most probably make $5.15. So, after taxes, they might walk home with maybe $32 to $45 per day (not enough to live on). Meanwhile, you just spent maybe 20 dollars in a brief moment, for your meal, or 40 dollars for dinner for two, and you can't just through em a couple extra bucks?!??!???! What if every person who got a to-go order gave $3 to the kitchen...well, that'd be a nice little bonus for somebody that REALLY needs it, coming from people that probably don't.

Also, do not leave out the guy who possibly delivered the bread that you used to prepare that days meal.
Ya know the bread guy? The guy who drug his ass out of bed at 3 a.m. to drive to your location,the guy who supposedly knows what you need and how much of it your going to use?
The guy who if he is wrong gets his ass ripped for not leaving enough or better yet left to much of something else and not enough of the other thing? The guy who managed to save your hide by shorting someone else to give you something you forgot to tell me you needed?
Yea,that guy where is my tip? In the freezing cold or wonderful rain,there we are to make sure you have the proper items on hand at all times to ensure your customers all have a great time and happy experience and by extension leave a great tip..
Where is my tip?

[esselcue]

Working with the general public is difficult no matter what area of service you are in: cashiers, food service, the complaint desk at the phone company. It's tough dealing with the public who are having a bad day or are angry over something or are just plain miserable people...unfortunately that's part of the job of working with the public, I guess. I've done it.

I believe tipping was originally initiated to reward service that was over and above the call of duty, so to speak. When someone goes out of their way to give extra service or handle a problem for you in an expedited way or gives you a 150% smile when they are obviously harried themselves, it warrants a tip. I don't care how bad the food is in a restaurant or if the kitchen is slow, that's not the server's fault...if the server is friendly and attentive and makes me feel welcome, I tip generously. If the shuttle driver is jovial and helps me with my bags with a smile, I tip generously. If the hairstylist takes the time to help me with a scalp problem or provides me extra information about a product or just makes me laugh when I have a headache, I tip generously! etc etc etc

But when a person is being paid for the job they do and they do nothing above and beyond that job, then I do not tip. Worker's at McDonalds do not make $2.50 an hour and are not expected to get tips. So...it sort of follows that other fast food places and cashiers and such fall into that category. As I said...I've done it