Trump targets Obama rule on workers' tips

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY LYDIA WHEELER - 08/27/17 07:30 AM EDT

The Trump administration is planning to quash an Obama-era rule that prevents employers from pooling workers’ tips.

The change could allow restaurants to share tips waiters receive, for example, with untipped employees such as kitchen cooks.

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced its plan to change the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulation in its semi-annual Unified Regulatory Agenda in July.

The agency said the change would only apply to employers that pay tipped employees the full minimum wage directly. It would not apply to employees who make less than the minimum wage and earn tips to supplement their pay, also known as tip credit.

Read more: http://thehill.com/regulation/labor/348052-trump-targets-obama-rule-on-workers-tips

[Roland99]

1. Petty tyrant

[samnsara]

2. just 2 years ago my dtr waitressed at a well known Tenn steakhouse for....

...$2 an hour. Now THAT should be illegal! tips should be tips for the worker....period....and min wage as well. Employers......think of it as your employees Christmas bonus!

[BigmanPigman]

3. He is the cheapest so called millionaire and Repub.

I wonder if he even leaves a tip especially at his own restaurants. He never pays any of his workers, has never donated to a charity and steals from them instead. Miserly jackass!

[MichMan]

4. I don't see what is wrong with this

Many, many years ago while in college in the late 70's, I worked at a casual seafood restaurant as a busboy making minimum wage. At the end of the night the servers would be comparing tips, which in a busy night would result in at least $100 (untaxed). It was very discouraging as I was lucky to have grossed around $15 for 5 hours of work.

I wonder how much they would have earned in tips with no one to set up and clear the tables and cook the food ?

This policy would make sure all of those who made the server successful shared in the tips; not just the ones with the most cleavage that took orders and delivered the food.

[cannabis_flower]

6. Seriously?

In my state (Texas) the minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. The minimum wage for non-tipped employees is $7.25. When I was in high school and waited tables minimum tipped wage was $1.35 an hour. So without tips I would have taken home $6.75 for a 5 hour shift.

And while you say that a busy night would result in at least $100 we rarely made that much. Usually more like $40 or $50 most nights. I might add that most restaurants these days have eliminated busboys and have the wait staff set up and bus their own tables and bring their own drinks. I worked in one restaurant that had busboys but the rest the waitstaff did their own side work.

[MichMan]

13. I'm seriously thinking you didn't read it before replying

" The agency said the change would only apply to employers that pay tipped employees the full minimum wage directly. It would not apply to employees who make less than the minimum wage and earn tips to supplement their pay, also known as tip credit."

[cannabis_flower]

15. And what I'm saying

is those waiters probably didn't make half what you made per hour and the good nights you talked about weren't the usual.

[obamanut2012]

7. Wait staff do not get minimum wage, they work for tips

They should not have to share their wage with ANYONE. The owner should be paying the wages.

[MichMan]

12. Did you read the article?

" The agency said the change would only apply to employers that pay tipped employees the full minimum wage directly. It would not apply to employees who make less than the minimum wage and earn tips to supplement their pay, also known as tip credit."

[mwooldri]

8. I'd rather pay higher prices and abolish tipping.

Everyone should be paid a living wage.

Minimum wage doesn't cut it.

[MichMan]

11. Apparently reading comprehension is severely lacking

The article is very clear that this only applies to waitstaff being paid minimum wage PLUS tips.

Surprised that some here are OK with people keeping all their money to themselves and not sharing with those who helped contribute to their success.

I got mine, so screw everyone else.

When I was a busboy, I had a server give me $1...... once.

[toddwv]

14. I've worked as a busboy and a waiter.

Bussing tables is nothing like waiting them. Not even close. Busy, yes. Back breaking, sure.

[TeamPooka]

16. oh gosh many many years ago the dinosaurs roamed the earth too.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Wasn't this POS calling himself the working people's hero during the

campaign? Let's see, this, ending OT rules, and rolling back requirements that employers report violations of workplace safety.

[rickford66]

9. My son was a bus boy at two different popular restaurants here.

The first the wait staff kept their tips and they shared very generously with all the untipped ones. The second where the tips were pooled and disbursed by the owners, his share dropped like a rock. Both were very popular Italian restaurants.

[Phoenix61]

10. I have no problem with wait staff pooling tips

I waitressed for many years and you would not believe the bickering over who got what section. It was completely understandable because some sections of the restaurant had more desirable seats. Pooling tips puts and end to that and servers are very motivated to make sure all diners get great service, not just the ones in their section. Tipping out bartenders, bussers, and hostesses was pretty standard. However, paying wait staff a couple of extra dollars an hour to get them up to minimum wage so they can subsidize the back of the house payroll is just wrong. Kitchen staff can count on a steady pay check. Waiting tables is hit or miss. Sure, the money can be very good but it can also be amazingly bad. Think lots of outside seating and pouring down rain.

[JI7]

17. Trump would keep the money for himself

[winstars]

18. This from the idiot who has his steak well done, with ketchup....