General Discussion

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)

82. Maybe the restaurant industry SHOULD be decimated.

Tue Jan 29, 2013, 04:53 PM

Jan 2013

If they can't pay their staff at least the standard minimum wage their business model is failing. Plate costs SHOULD be higher if that's what is needed to make ends meet.

Living on the West Coast, where all three states have labor laws requiring that servers be paid at least the state minimum wage and where all three states have minimums HIGHER than the Federal minimum, we have restaurants galore even at the lower price points.

Been to San Francisco lately? Wait staff must be paid over $10/ hour and if the restaurant has more than 20 employees the owners must earmark an additional $1.50/hr to pay for some rudimentary health care access for employees. Did this decimate the industry? Not so you'd notice. There are restaurants on every block in commercial areas even out in the neighborhoods where tourists don't go.

Accomplishing better wages for servers can be done without decimating the industry if there's a will to do so.

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The disappearing 20% TIP! (3700 votes for tip integrity) [View all] Omaha Steve Jan 2013 OP

Unfucking believable! I allways tip at least 20% and then round up. OffWithTheirHeads Jan 2013 #1

We do too, but we make sure to hand cash to the wait person vs. paying it w/the meal. Doremus Jan 2013 #3

Noted! OffWithTheirHeads Jan 2013 #10

Yes! silverweb Jan 2013 #85

I don't believe in the 20% tip. kracer20 Jan 2013 #7

Both servers are making $2.13/hour a la izquierda Jan 2013 #16

Higher end restaurants have servers vastly more Lucky Luciano Jan 2013 #18

Yep OriginalGeek Jan 2013 #72

Percentages are everything Ter Jan 2013 #21

On top of that, servers have to claim a percentage of sales as taxable income. Kencorburn Jan 2013 #51

it's not like Santa. Sheesh. bettyellen Jan 2013 #30

I wouldn't eat at the fancy place twice, then union_maid Jan 2013 #45

In a low-end restaurant table turnover is tblue37 Jan 2013 #46

I am this close to advocating the passage of a law WolverineDG Jan 2013 #61

Many of us have. Those of us who have waited tblue37 Jan 2013 #91

You do know that the IRS snags 8% of the tab & calls it "income" WolverineDG Jan 2013 #60

That problem should be addressed MattBaggins Jan 2013 #71

This message was self-deleted by its author kysrsoze Jan 2013 #62

At the higher end facilities, the wait staff have to tip out bartenders, bus boys etc. Dustlawyer Jan 2013 #87

I read this post yesterday, and it has stuck with me. Curmudgeoness Jan 2013 #90

If you are going through hard times and are short on cash MattBaggins Jan 2013 #43

If you can't afford the tip gollygee Jan 2013 #47

I hear that a lot from some of MattBaggins Jan 2013 #49

It's part of the cost of the meal gollygee Jan 2013 #64

No it is not part of the cost MattBaggins Jan 2013 #68

IMO 15 to 20% is fine gollygee Jan 2013 #69

When I was younger I followed 2 different heads of parties out to their cars because they Maraya1969 Jan 2013 #93

From the workers' point of view, yes union_maid Jan 2013 #56

No MattBaggins Jan 2013 #58

If none of them are willing to pay that, you're in trouble. caseymoz Jan 2013 #79

Did you see someplace where I said everybody should do what I do? OffWithTheirHeads Jan 2013 #77

grocery store, fast food, etc. CreekDog Jan 2013 #97

I appreciate your help MattBaggins Jan 2013 #98

Can we sign the petition or any petition for these people? Maraya1969 Jan 2013 #92

I can't freaking believe the hotels keep the dayum tips that is utter bullshit Heather MC Jan 2013 #2

Working in advertising and the music businesses, I've been to functions rocktivity Jan 2013 #4

You gotta be kidding me. Sheldon Cooper Jan 2013 #5

I wish I could feign surprise... Moostache Jan 2013 #52

The solution to this isn't to have us tip and pay that charge dsc Jan 2013 #6

+1 JVS Jan 2013 #28

Like I said in a previous post. I think if I ever find out that the waiter does not get the tip Maraya1969 Jan 2013 #94

Is this only the case in San Antonio? Curmudgeoness Jan 2013 #8

If That is the Case Someone Should Bring Down the Law On Them AndyTiedye Jan 2013 #20

That is intensely sleazy of any hotel that does that. Matariki Jan 2013 #9

It's typical hotel practice. GoneOffShore Jan 2013 #14

SFGate has an article about the 4% Healthy SF tax adieu Jan 2013 #11

so....what exactly is that money for? Skittles Jan 2013 #12

I would guess so they can pretend their prices are cheaper than they really are. Incitatus Jan 2013 #40

This is an Old Practice On the Road Jan 2013 #13

I AM A 20%-ER leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #15

I've seen this before... davidn3600 Jan 2013 #17

so when I tip the maid at a hotel dsc Jan 2013 #78

Im not saying its true with all hotels or even true today davidn3600 Jan 2013 #88

This issue isn't just in large chain hotels and restaurants. go west young man Jan 2013 #19

You're misrepresenting what the server "tip out" is theKed Jan 2013 #23

You see the problem is in real life I'm a chef I'm making currently $14.50 an hour Arcanetrance Jan 2013 #35

Most chefs/cooks theKed Jan 2013 #54

I know that all don't make this Arcanetrance Jan 2013 #55

I agree it's not high enough...not anywhere. theKed Jan 2013 #66

Why should people who are making minimum wage or above get a "tip out"... Spider Jerusalem Jan 2013 #36

Yes, it's because a lot of the chain restaurants NewJeffCT Jan 2013 #41

I may be a tin foiler MattBaggins Jan 2013 #73

We tipped out 40 years ago, too union_maid Jan 2013 #48

I worked in the kitchen of a restaurant in 1974. MicaelS Jan 2013 #57

Maybe the restaurant industry SHOULD be decimated. Gormy Cuss Jan 2013 #82

I have a nephew who works at a dinner theater SheilaT Jan 2013 #22

Ya know what would be neat? quakerboy Jan 2013 #24

Yep. nt redqueen Jan 2013 #75

banquet joints here in chicago do this, also. mopinko Jan 2013 #25

This is so wrong, it's stealing from the servers and wait staff. mountain grammy Jan 2013 #26

Tipping is a disease . . . MrModerate Jan 2013 #27

15% used to be the normal... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2013 #29

It actually sounds like fraud. reformist2 Jan 2013 #31

The real solution is to require employers to pay more than, what, $2.13 an hour. Spider Jerusalem Jan 2013 #32

I always leave 20% Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #33

Thank you for the great comments Omaha Steve Jan 2013 #34

K&R 99Forever Jan 2013 #37

Fucking disgusting. Incitatus Jan 2013 #38

So that 20% service fee is just the hotel robbing the customers and their own employees? tclambert Jan 2013 #39

And of course, because they are 'tipped' workers Lifelong Protester Jan 2013 #42

O/T re: your sig line image Cal Carpenter Jan 2013 #44

It is on our rent list Omaha Steve Jan 2013 #67

Pizza joints are doing this hustle too. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #50

I think I might ask the pizza delivery person how much they get per delivery and cross Maraya1969 Jan 2013 #95

That tip doesn't just go to the waiter...it is shared with the busboys, bartenders and barbacks too TeamPooka Jan 2013 #53

So let me see if I understand this... MicaelS Jan 2013 #59

The 20% extra on the bill is supposed to cover the tips that YOUR GUESTS would pay rocktivity Jan 2013 #83

What a scam. Thanks for helping expose this ripoff. nt SunSeeker Jan 2013 #63

They tried that gratuity charge here for a couple of years..... Uben Jan 2013 #65

Oh JustAnotherGen Jan 2013 #70

I think you're ok. DaveJ Jan 2013 #76

I would not have assumed "service charge" meant tip. DaveJ Jan 2013 #74

I would assume so given that I'd already be paying $85.00 to $135.00 per guest. (I looked it up.) Luminous Animal Jan 2013 #84

That's the going rate for banquets unfortunately DaveJ Jan 2013 #89

I always leave a good tip, WHEN CRABS ROAR Jan 2013 #80

Actually, I think customers should take action. caseymoz Jan 2013 #81

It's not a tip if the business takes it. It's a fee. gtar100 Jan 2013 #86

I am glad to see people here saying that waitstaff should be paid a living wage madinmaryland Jan 2013 #96