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Restaurant Tips
May. 22nd, 2019 10:46 amThe restaurant minimum wage is a joke. Federally, and in most states, the amount is $2.13 per hour. (Boston is $4.35, and DC is $3.89.) Several, but not all, states require that the amount of tips should bring the worker's wage equivalent to the state minimum wage. (Massachusetts is $12.00 and DC is $13.25.) A few states require that restaurant workers get the state minimum wage before tips -- this includes all three states on the West Coast as well as Nevada, Montana, Minnesota, and Alaska. Only California and Washington State have state minimum wages above $10 per hour.
I'm covering this because I took myself out to dinner last night to celebrate payday. The total came to $29.99. The restaurant had a row of suggested tips with 20% at $5.45. I calculate my own tips. $29.99 is near enough $30 that 20% is $6.00 (My calculator says 5.998). I reported this to the restaurant, and I was told they'd look into it.
I'm worried that this could be more than just a mistaken calculation or misprogrammed digital register. This could be systemic either with this company, this area, or across the restaurant industry.
If your receipt has "suggested amounts" at the bottom, please calculate at least one yourself to verify they're within spitting distance of accurate. It's bad enough that we don't pay restaurant workers well, but to short them on tips -- I'm not talking about poor service, btw -- is terrible.
I'm covering this because I took myself out to dinner last night to celebrate payday. The total came to $29.99. The restaurant had a row of suggested tips with 20% at $5.45. I calculate my own tips. $29.99 is near enough $30 that 20% is $6.00 (My calculator says 5.998). I reported this to the restaurant, and I was told they'd look into it.
I'm worried that this could be more than just a mistaken calculation or misprogrammed digital register. This could be systemic either with this company, this area, or across the restaurant industry.
If your receipt has "suggested amounts" at the bottom, please calculate at least one yourself to verify they're within spitting distance of accurate. It's bad enough that we don't pay restaurant workers well, but to short them on tips -- I'm not talking about poor service, btw -- is terrible.
