[chef hanz]

NY has decided to raise tipped wage workers from $5 to 7.50 at once staring at the end of the year. Myself and many other restaurant employees fear this will have a devastating effect on restaurants possibly closing many within first year or so. Has any other state gone through this high of a hike? Normal minimum wage is going up .25 cents as well which it just went up .75 cents this year and .75 cents last year . so as of January 2016 the wages would gave increased 4.25 in less than 2 years.

 

[rsi rich]

Seriously?  California tipped employees get base min. wage ($9) + tips.

San Francisco even more ($11.05 + tips).  Across the board doom and gloom is fear mongering at its best.  Some restaurants will close no doubt.  As we in the industry know, there are a million reasons restaurants shut down.  Poor management is definitely the bigger reason for closures than minimum wage increases.

 

[capecodchef]

As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats. My meaning is that the raise in the minimum wage affects ALL eateries so no one gains a competitive advantage when it happens. Theoretically at lt least, no one should go out of business as a result, but I'm sure those that do will now have another excuse as to the reason.

Here in Massachusetts our server wages are on their way to $5.50 from a low $2.63, and our regular minimum wage is headed to be among the highest in the country. Many have voiced similar opinions as yours, but I, for one, believe in a living wage. No one I know can survive on $8 per hour. We start our dish and bus at $10, and now $11 now that the min is $9 on the way to $11. We keep step a dollar or two above the min and we want to promote loyalty and longevity in the workplace. If we need to raise our prices to do so, we do just that.

 

[blueicus]

Seriously, in Canada our servers' tipped wage is nearly on parity with the regular minimum wage, and some employers (gasp) even pay above that!  If your business is losing money because you can't pay your workers like indentured servants, then your place has bigger issues than the minimum wage law.

 

[slickazgrease]

I've worked at places in NY that pay their servers regular minimum or a little more. But, then they also can legally be required to do more than only 20% non-serving, non-tipped work duties. Servers have been making way too little money for a long time IMO. Granted, many make really good money in tips, but some do not, and one's barely liveable wage should not be based entirely on business volume. The employer needs to pay people for their time and the opportunity cost of giving the employer their time. That really shouldn't be closing properly managed restaurants in NYS. If anything, food costs and taxes will before wages. Even chicken wings are like gold now, and they used to cost nothing. A lot of restaurants contribute to 401ks now just because it is a cheap benefit that helps keep their taxes down.

Seriously, in Canada our servers' tipped wage is nearly on parity with the regular minimum wage, and some employers (gasp) even pay above that! If your business is losing money because you can't pay your workers like indentured servants, then your place has bigger issues than the minimum wage law.

So true.