Good day everyone,
Worth watching is the strong support shown for a higher minimum wage for servers.
An earlier story noted that the minimum wage for wait staff remains at $2.23 an hour. It amounts to a gap of $7 with the new increase in the minimum wage to $9.25 an hour.
The wage for tips has not changed since the early 1980s. At that time, the federal minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. An effort to raise the tipped wage was unsuccessful earlier this year.
The $9.25 figure was part of a phased-in minimum wage that includes a lower training and youth wage. It was part of a compromise from Republican legislators during the contentious final hours of a previous General Assembly session.
The latest story drew a strong response on our Facebook page with nearly everyone expressing support for a higher minimum wage for waitstaff.
The argument for a lower tipped wage is that waitstaff can come away with a lot of extra money.
It does not always work out that way, especially at less expensive establishments
The good news is that restaurant-goers have at least some power in increasing the minimum wage for servers.
Paying a bigger tip, especially on a lower-priced meal, will help the server get closer to a competitive wage.
.The amount you tip still comes down to the level of service. But keep in mind that low base wage, even if you don’t get five-star service.
Enjoy your weekend. This newsletter returns on Monday.
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