General Discussion

mfcorey1

(11,001 posts) Sat Mar 2, 2013, 10:53 AM Mar 2013

The Up With Chris show on the food industry is very interesting. I had no

idea that the base pay for a waitress, busboy, etc, is on $2.21 per hour. More interesting is that when Herman Cain represented the food industry to Congress he made a pact that the wage/tip payments would never change. I always tip but that is still why I wonder why a chef who receives a regular wage would share in the tips of the other workers. There have been many complaints filed because managers have also dipped in the tip jar to receive compensation. One woman explained that you could work a week and basically have no wage if business was not good that week or if the tips were lousy. However, there is now a bill in the house to change that wage/tip minimum wage.

Wow! Sick workers continue to work because they have no health benefits and that creates airborne infections for diners. It has been noted as one of the greatest reasons for that sort of illness.

5 replies

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The Up With Chris show on the food industry is very interesting. I had no (Original Post) mfcorey1 Mar 2013 OP

When I was a chef I made less than the servers. tridim Mar 2013 #1

Thanks for that info. Very interesting. mfcorey1 Mar 2013 #2

And yet if you judge by Lindsay Mar 2013 #3

If I were young and strong I would rather go into cleaning houses. Here in CT there are people who CTyankee Mar 2013 #5

That is not the case nation wide, such rules are State by State. Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #4

tridim

(45,358 posts)

1. When I was a chef I made less than the servers.

Reply to mfcorey1 (Original post)

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 10:56 AM

Mar 2013

Everyone is underpaid in the food service industry. Very few chefs make a living wage.

But yes, $2.21 per hour is shocking.

mfcorey1

(11,001 posts)

2. Thanks for that info. Very interesting.

Reply to tridim (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 10:57 AM

Mar 2013

Lindsay

(3,276 posts)

3. And yet if you judge by

Reply to tridim (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 11:18 AM

Mar 2013

a large portion of reality teevee (and a big chunk of for-profit education advertising as well), being a chef is the glamour job of this century, to which we should all aspire.

Glad to know there's some truth getting out there.

CTyankee

(63,899 posts)

5. If I were young and strong I would rather go into cleaning houses. Here in CT there are people who

Reply to tridim (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 12:32 PM

Mar 2013

really need the help, e.g. the elderly and working couples. So the domestic workers' wages are kept fairly high, at least compared to what wait persons make...my husband is partially disabled and we are both older, so having someone come in once a month or so is a godsend. I pay an hourly wage that works out to over $18 per hour. I simply can't do the lifting and strenuous stuff all by myself any more...

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)

4. That is not the case nation wide, such rules are State by State.

Reply to mfcorey1 (Original post)

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 12:29 PM

Mar 2013

Here in Oregon there is no 'tip credit' allowed, and tipped employees get the full minimum wage of $8.95 an hour in addition to tips.
Other States have various laws. This is important, because people in the States that treat tipped employees poorly could do something about it no matter what the Federal law is. It's just that they don't.
http://www.paywizard.org/main/minimum-wage/tipped-workers

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