Overworked and underpaid servers are real and it is a true problem today.
Some servers working in smaller restaurants, who depend on tips for income, can spend several hours in a day to make hardly $50.
Not only is the minimum for a server in Michigan less than five dollars, it is 4.74 dollars, according to Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA), but some tables will leave with no tip or tip at a very low rate for the service received. This leaves servers to go home with less than average minimum wage.
Customers typically range from ten to twenty percent tips with average service. “12 percent of adults say they would leave a tip of 18 percent, while a quarter say they would tip 20 percent or more,” according to Pew Research Center.
Restaurant companies are supposed to pay their servers to make up for the difference of regular minimum wage, however many companies do not follow through with that and hardly is there ever federal involvement. An hourly wage less than five dollars, will not be able to stabilize rent and monthly bills.
“Michigan’s minimum wage is $12.48 per hour,” according to the MRLA.
There are many responsibilities to be aware of while taking tables as a server such as getting refills, making sure every person is enjoying their time and food and knowing answers to any possible questions. Under tipping or not tipping at all can be very discouraging and possibly take out an entire portion of money that may have an impact on their official payout. Taking up a table for multiple hours for no additional revenue off of their small hourly pay, can decrease their overall profit entirely.
“A majority of Americans say they would tip 15 percent or less for an average meal at a sit-down restaurant,” according to Pew Research Center.
Some servers depend on tips to pay for rent and to put food on the table. At times, customers will tip little to nothing because the kitchen made a mistake and the issue is taken out on the server. Regardless of a small mistake, servers do not deserve to have anger taken out on them just because they are the only face customers see.
Throughout the service industry, there has been consistent argument about how much to tip and why a tip should be altered. Regardless, servers struggle with revenue all over the country while they are just trying to get by and survive.
