Considering a career in the restaurant industry, particularly as a waiter or waitress? It’s crucial to be aware of the challenges that come with it. Handling demanding and sometimes disrespectful customers, enduring long hours on your feet, and grappling with low wages are among the difficulties.
In the United States, restaurant owners are permitted to pay their staff below the federal minimum wage, relying on tips to make up the difference. Shockingly, in 21 states, servers are compensated as little as $2.13 per hour before tips. This practice contributes to a significant portion of restaurant workers living below the poverty line, facing financial insecurity, and lacking benefits like paid sick leave and health coverage.
Despite the expectation of receiving tips, some patrons choose to either tip below the standard 15% or not at all, exacerbating the financial strain on servers. Recently, a waitress named Taylar Cordova shared her experience online after a customer left no tip on a bill totaling $187.43, causing her post to go viral.
Cordova’s message resonated widely:
“This incident epitomizes the challenges I face daily. The struggle to provide for my family is real. Every decision, including whether to tip your server, has consequences. Servers typically earn a base pay of $2-5/hr, and not tipping significantly impacts our ability to meet basic needs. Please consider the financial hardship you impose when you choose not to tip, even after receiving exceptional service.”
The plight of restaurant workers is gaining attention, with several states, including New York, moving to increase or eliminate the lower tipped minimum wage. This shift is crucial, given that the restaurant industry is a significant employer in the U.S., with millions depending on it for livelihoods.
Please help raise awareness by sharing this message with your network.
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