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NewDeal_Dem

(1,049 posts) Wed Jan 7, 2015, 09:18 PM Jan 2015

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A Restaurant Just Banned Tips And Employees Are Thrilled [View all]

A Pittsburgh restaurant just banished tips and in return, started paying employees a $35,000 salary with benefits.

The restaurant, called Bar Marco, is also giving its workers health care, 500 shares in the company, and paid vacation.

"America needs to realize that working in the restaurant industry is an occupation," Bar Marco co-owner Robert Fry told Eater.

All 20 of Bar Marco's employees have signed the new contracts, which state that they will work a maximum of 40 to 44 hours per week and get two days and one night off a week. Employees will also get 10 paid vacation days per year.

"This is truly touching and incredible," employee Csilla Marie Thackray wrote on the company's Facebook page. "So proud to be a part of such a phenomenal and supportive company."

Full-time salaries are rare in the restaurant industry and the minimum wage for tipped workers is meager. In Pennsylvania, the tipped minimum wage is is $2.83.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/spendingandborrowing/a-restaurant-just-banned-tips-and-employees-are-thrilled/ar-AA7Syx3?ocid=iehp

85 replies

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A Restaurant Just Banned Tips And Employees Are Thrilled [View all] NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 OP

Wow! I hope Bar Marco is very successful. nt brer cat Jan 2015 #1

I hope so too, but I would go somewhere else yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #13

Yes, cause everyone making $2.83 F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #24

I believe they will end up with a lower amount of money. The 2.83 is nothing compared to the tips yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #38

Many of us would be more than thrilled to earn 35k per year. (with degrees.) robinlynne Jan 2015 #46

+1 nt F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #48

Absolutely! nt Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #63

So transparent. Kingofalldems Jan 2015 #50

You appear to think that patrons of all restaurants... gcomeau Jan 2015 #70

again, please tell me where this mythical restaurant was that had you pulling in $78K a year NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #79

The cute blondes with big, um, personalities may make tips like that. tclambert Jan 2015 #43

Speaking as a tipped employee, too : Mike Niendorff Jan 2015 #31

And yet their employees have bought in to it. Gormy Cuss Jan 2015 #36

Waitstaff at Applebees don't make that kind of money lark Jan 2015 #53

It's about $17 an hour plus benefits, just slightly below median wage for all workers. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #80

And benefits with time off? Don't forget that. AllyCat Jan 2015 #35

it's actually about $17.50/hour or 2916/month CreekDog Jan 2015 #47

Dang, where did you work? Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #61

Somewhere that let him make $78K a year in tips alone, supposedly. Me, I doubt it. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #81

It is possible. Ace Rothstein Jan 2015 #82

maybe. which i why i think the poster should tell us where this restaurant is. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #84

No wonder the govt began taxing tips, we were all supposed to be making big bucks while Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #85

Do tips count toward Social Security? gelsdorf Jan 2015 #72

good question. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #78

They make 35K. That means $673 a week, $1346 for two weeks. Even with 20% taken NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #75

Well said. obxhead Jan 2015 #77

Here's the website... KansDem Jan 2015 #2

A coffee shop in my neighborhood did something like that. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #3

In most European countries wait staff is very much a skilled trade Major Nikon Jan 2015 #16

Where in Europe do you not tip? OldEurope Jan 2015 #41

Northern Europe, not so much. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #56

I live in Germany flygal Jan 2015 #62

I hope it works out for them. n/t PoliticAverse Jan 2015 #4

This was tried in Los Angeles last year but the restaurant went out of business soon after. Kablooie Jan 2015 #5

Was it because of employee salaries and benefits? bigwillq Jan 2015 #9

I don't know. It was a young hipster kind of place and I never went there. Kablooie Jan 2015 #17

That's too bad. Brigid Jan 2015 #11

What was the name of the restaurant? Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #20

Brand 158 in Glendale Kablooie Jan 2015 #27

I am mistaken, It's NOT out of business! Kablooie Jan 2015 #21

From a customer standpoint, kiva Jan 2015 #23

It's hugely different. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #25

That is so true and I agree about the fees.. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #44

15% of $20 is $3.00 not $2.50 pamela Jan 2015 #57

Oh crap, you are right.. there I go relying on my brain again. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #73

Aww, you're a sweetheart. pamela Jan 2015 #83

They started without the 15% fee but had higher prices. Kablooie Jan 2015 #28

Or to make the prices competitive. Gormy Cuss Jan 2015 #37

in california they have to pay minimum wage even for waitstaff who get tips JI7 Jan 2015 #26

I did not know that good info and good labor practice. Imo lunasun Jan 2015 #76

excellent... handmade34 Jan 2015 #6

wishing them the very best of luck. niyad Jan 2015 #7

Cool. bigwillq Jan 2015 #8

I would totally eat there. Brigid Jan 2015 #10

$2.83!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AlbertCat Jan 2015 #12

no, slave wages. we all live under wage slavery, but we don't all get slave wages. NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #14

I worked as a waiter twice underpants Jan 2015 #18

This owner gets it. Unknown Beatle Jan 2015 #15

Sick days, too? PADemD Jan 2015 #19

That's great jeanmarc Jan 2015 #40

Good for them. JimDandy Jan 2015 #22

I hate the whole concept of tipping, so that'll be on my list of places to go in the US.... Violet_Crumble Jan 2015 #29

Superb! Sherman A1 Jan 2015 #30

I need to find an excuse to go to Pittsburgh....late spring or summer though. Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #32

Do come Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #64

It's actually a place I've long wanted to visit. Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #69

Great news Omaha Steve Jan 2015 #33

Tipped employee minimum wage is $4.91 here madville Jan 2015 #34

"she said the only downside is you reek of smoked meat when you leave" bobclark86 Jan 2015 #60

Like they can stop me from tipping. Iggo Jan 2015 #39

Yes, how would they prevent people from tipping if they still wanted to? LiberalLovinLug Jan 2015 #54

They do at Noodle and Company yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #65

Part of the article, Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #66

Yeah tipping is terrible. We need to do away with sub minimum wage pay options for wait staff. Exultant Democracy Jan 2015 #42

I wish them the best and if I'm ever in Pittsburgh I'll be looking for Bar Marco. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #45

Bookmarked so I will eat there someday. It's only 7 hour of driving to there from my home. Not bad! TRoN33 Jan 2015 #49

This is the way a company should be run! n/t RKP5637 Jan 2015 #51

the NRA is not impressed Enrique Jan 2015 #52

gee - what horse shit rurallib Jan 2015 #55

I'd say it's a virtual guarantee! Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #68

If that is the case, Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #67

i think this association spokesperson should work on tips Enrique Jan 2015 #71

a danish e-pal of mine visited america here for 3 weeks. i had to explain why he needed to tip. pansypoo53219 Jan 2015 #58

So by my figuring that works out to $17.50 an hour. Pretty darn good. nt Fla Dem Jan 2015 #59

Low min wage and tipping is remnant of institutional slavery days. ErikJ Jan 2015 #74