Hi everyone! First time poster in this sub, hopefully i format this correctly.
Anyways, i started working for this guy in May 2022 running a food truck entirely by myself and filling in at his other three restaurants whenever i am needed. When i started i had asked for $20 an hour, assuming i would be paid tips. Later i had found out that i wasn’t and haven’t been paid my tips even though I’m the only one who works in the truck. Most of our tips come from card purchases so i can’t just take them. I’ve asked my boss probably 4-5 times for tips because i know i work hard and deserve it, while i also know it is illegal to not pay them out to employees. He responds every time saying that he doesn’t make enough to pay me tips and has even been aggressive and yelled at me for asking. I know other employees make tips,(not sure if all) as far as i know I’m the only one who doesn’t. I have an interview with a new job on Monday but i am wondering if it’s worth it to report it to the DOL? I looked at our square readers numbers and from the time i started, i have missed ~$10k in tips. Does anyone have experience with this?
Also I’m in the Puget Sound area in WA if that helps. Thanks!