...couldn't pay my help that low.

Was higher than any other job in the business?

...but, at least, I can sleep at night.

Somebody else may feel free or think otherwise and act accordingly. I have no problem with that.
I'm not the holy judge.

And silly. Waiting tables isn't easy...neither is cooking, washing dishes, bussing tables, or hostessing. My wait staff average hourly rate with tips in November (and consistently) was $14.50. Average hourly for cooks is $12...

"If the business fails, it fails.."

How cavalier. ...and sounds like someone never responsible for a business. Ten full time people depend on their paycheck to pay their bills and feed their families. ..not to mention 30 part time people. ...

No..I didn't earn it. I inherited it.

"sounds like someone never responsible for a business" You got me. Now you know why I don't have a business.
Plus I've said too much on this forum....

Last edited Sun Dec 28, 2014, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)

There is an automatic assumption that each tab will be tipped accordingly and the amount of the bill is reported to the IRS. The waitress has to pay taxes on an assumed amount. If she gets stiffed or less than is expected she still pays taxes on that amount. So, let's say she waits on a table of 10 college boys who run up a tab of say, 400.00, but leave no tip (you know how alcohol can get in the way of manners). She still has to pay taxes on the amount she should have been tipped. Not to mention the harassment she's bound to receive from a group like that.

Your assumption is ridiculous.

It isn't that way in my state or Colorado. Wait staff declare tips at the end of the shift. I have never heard of any places doing what you're describing, frankly I don't believe it is even legal.

I have made no assumption, I manage a restaurant and server's average hourly wage including tips are consistently the highest in the restaurant...to the point I can't keep hostesses, they all move to wait after a month or two.

Including a restaurant and 5 health care food service kitchens/dining rooms, my assistant is a CPA and I report to the CFO (also a CPA)...I approve every paycheck and weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual report. I'll ask my assistant if she has ever heard of this.

Check back once you've inquired. It kind of sounds like the particular restaurant you work for has found a way to make it more fair to their help. RE: Meeting the real minimum wage if not met with tips.

"States with lower tipped worker hourly rate still require the restaurant to guarantee non-tip minimum wage. IOW, if at the end of the shift when tips are declared the server doesn't make at least minimum wage the employer has to make up the difference."

Even then, think about it. Minimum wage for grueling work. They tip the busboys, bartenders and cooks out of their tips. And still, depending on the customers' tab and tip, they still may be paying taxes on money never earned. Some restaurants add 10% gratuity for a table with 8 or more people to help make up the deficit.

States with lower tipped worker hourly rate still require the restaurant to guarantee non-tip minimum wage. IOW, if at the end of the shift when tips are declared the server doesn't make at least minimum wage the employer has to make up the difference.

restaurant. Each waiter/waitress had her/his own character, chosen by management. I was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. The top of my white shorts came way below the hip and were so short they just barely covered my butt. I wore a shorty short little vest top with a star on each boob and high healed white boots. That's it. And this was a family restaurant. Some of the costumes fully covered the waiter/waitress. They based our costumes on our size and what we looked like in the costume.

Some guy actually bit me on the ass one night when I bent over to set down his drink. He and his friends got a good laugh out of that.

There was never a day that I made enough money in tips to make up for the kind of treatment I had to put up with.

Standing outside Wally World with a "Please Help" sign. Heard about someone that had to pay that $2.13 for 32 hours back to the IRS because there were no tips for a heavy business week with a lot of gross receipts. It was her first week of working as a waitress, and she quit when payday was collection day.
Imagine going picking up your paycheck and the boss says you owe money for working that week.
Advise about waitressing: DON'T.