Reply #38

18 years, and in all that time the tipped wage went all the way from $2.01 to $2.12. Plus, you have to claim your tips so that you could be taxed on that income. That tax came out of the $2.12/hour paycheck. So, if you had a really good week tip-wise, the taxes would eat up the whole check and you would literally get a zero dollar paycheck! Honestly, it became a source of pride between us killer servers to get a zero dollar check, cause it meant you kicked ass in tips that week.

The worse downside of such shitty pay, is that restaurant owners would use us "cheap labor" to do hours' worth of "side work" which included dusting, sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathrooms...all for $2.12 an hour. THAT'S the really shitty part of the whole thing.

But, on a humorous side-note, there was a bar in the neighborhood in Scottsdale who gave servers from all the local restaurants a free beer if they brought in a zero paycheck to staple onto the ceiling...at least it was good for something!