To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Servers and Tip Earners Should Be Included As Minimum Wage Earners
Servers, bartenders and all tip earners should be included as Minimum Wage Earners in all states. They should NOT be completely dependent on the generosity of others for their income when they are putting in a full day of hard work for their employer everyday.
Why is this important?
Servers, bartenders, and wait staff have been earning $2.13/hour since 1992. They are, and always have been, COMPLETELY dependent on the generosity of others for their entire income. Even though there have been increases in the minimum wage (although not enough, but that is another discussion), servers have never been included in those that have been able to receive the benefits of those increases. Servers are among the lowest wage earners in the country. And they are among the hardest working employees. They do not just "show up" for a couple of hours and collect big tips and go home. An average server will put in anywhere from 7-13 hours everyday. They prepare food and beverages, clean counters, clean food and beverage machines, stock food, beverage and ice machines, stock all paper products including restrooms, polish glasses and silverware, set up serving stations and restaurant sections, among other things. And that is all BEFORE they start their shift serving guests in the restaurant to earn the tips that pay their bills. The average "earning period" for the server is about two, maybe three hours, hopefully. If the restaurant is slow, management will use their servers as cleaning staff to clean windows, brass rails, mirrors, doors, relocating booths to clean under them, chandeliers, cabinets, shelves, or anything else that "needs to be done." Servers are NEVER allowed to sit down while on the clock, nor are they allowed to eat, at all. All for $2.13/hour. When the server is "cut" from their ability to earn any more tips, they then repeat everything they did before they started their shift before their day ends.
The worst part is by far the majority of guests have no idea that servers only make $2.13/hour. They do not realize that their "paycheck" completely goes to the government to be applied towards their taxes (barely). And because the guest is not required to leave any specific tip at all, the tip often times may only be 10% of the check. If you are an attentive and above average server, you may be able to receive 15%-20% tips on the total sales of your guests' checks. Again, however, the guest does not realize that 30%-35% of the tips the server receives immediately is deducted to be applied to compensate other employees in the restaurant (i.e., bartenders, hostesses, bussers, food runners, etc.). So that 10%-20% the server received quickly drops in reality to 7% to 14% income for the server. Then, to add insult to injury, since the recession hit almost a decade ago, business has dropped severely for everyone. Many, many, many days and nights servers are looking at empty tables. Empty tables equal empty pockets.
I know of no other employee who shows up to work for an employer for 7-13 hours a day, puts in a full HARD days work, and walks out the door with nothing to show for it. And the employer does not have to pay them for their work. That is wrong. Servers should be paid a minimum wage just like every other worker who reports to work for their employer and puts in an honest hard days work.
The worst part is by far the majority of guests have no idea that servers only make $2.13/hour. They do not realize that their "paycheck" completely goes to the government to be applied towards their taxes (barely). And because the guest is not required to leave any specific tip at all, the tip often times may only be 10% of the check. If you are an attentive and above average server, you may be able to receive 15%-20% tips on the total sales of your guests' checks. Again, however, the guest does not realize that 30%-35% of the tips the server receives immediately is deducted to be applied to compensate other employees in the restaurant (i.e., bartenders, hostesses, bussers, food runners, etc.). So that 10%-20% the server received quickly drops in reality to 7% to 14% income for the server. Then, to add insult to injury, since the recession hit almost a decade ago, business has dropped severely for everyone. Many, many, many days and nights servers are looking at empty tables. Empty tables equal empty pockets.
I know of no other employee who shows up to work for an employer for 7-13 hours a day, puts in a full HARD days work, and walks out the door with nothing to show for it. And the employer does not have to pay them for their work. That is wrong. Servers should be paid a minimum wage just like every other worker who reports to work for their employer and puts in an honest hard days work.