Just as the title states. I started a new job a little over a month ago. On the job posting on indeed it says pay $17-$22 an hour. (May sound like high pay but where I live I need to make at least $20 an hour to pay rent, food,etc I got the low-ball at $17, 0.60 above minimum) Then it goes on to say,
“We do not accept tips as it has biases on gender, race, and age. Instead, we have a 15% service fee that goes on every order. That fee is divided amongst all employees.” Sounded nice to me. I've served for awhile and I've worked in tip pools and it usually works really well.
The restaurant is setup weird it's not a typical sit down and someone serves you. There is one person (me) foh that does everything. Taking orders, seating guests, expo, bussing tables, as well as bartending. It gets crazy especially when it's just myself doing it all. I was even alone on my first day. But I was like whatever I'm going to be getting a good amount of money on this service fee since it's on legit all orders including doordash and Uber eats.
I got my first paycheck and it was not at all what I was expecting a for a 85 hour check. It was just my hours no tips or anything. So I asked my manager, found out no one gets the service fee unless their labor costs are where they want them. I was like “so no one gets it?” He says, “no, not until labor is where we need it to be. No one has gotten the bonuses in 3 months.”
I was stunned. Like what? No one gets it? Who does then? Owners? Management?
I tried to talk to coworkers but I'm legit the only one who speaks English other than the two managers so I have no one really to talk to about this.
I got a $20 tip the other day from a guest. We are told not to take tips and put them in the donation box. As much as it hurt to do I put it in the donation box. Then yesterday I get a message from the manager saying “all cash donations need to go in the register under the coin tray.” So now they're just putting it in the register not even using the donation box now. That just sounds to me that they are just yoinking it. I haven't even heard where it to who they are “donating” to. Even though I asked a manager and a coworker, neither of them knew.
I still have to work here for now currently looking for a better job. But I'm pissed. They lied on the job posting, lied about anyone getting anything, as well as lying to customers about where their money is going. I don't know what I can do about this. If anything. It feels super sketchy and I can't trust anything they say at this point. Any tips, ideas, or whatever helps.