No matter WHAT job I have, employers try to cut every fucking corner with my pay. I’ve been working as a hostess for about a month for $13 an hour with no tips — which would be fine, if my two 17 year old coworkers (also hosts) weren’t making more money than me and if we didn’t have to bus tables. It isn’t supposed to be a host’s job to bus tables, but that’s exactly what we’re expected to do. And you’d think if we bus that we get a portion of tips. NOPE.
I’m the only hostess without experience, which is the justification I’m sure my boss would give me if I brought up how I’m making less than my teenage coworkers, but one of them still doesn’t even have our table numbers memorized yet despite being here a month as well and the other is constantly complaining about the job, calling out, and not bussing tables well – I ALWAYS have to correct her lazy bussing.
Oh and, of course, I’d also probably be reprimanded for admitting I’ve talked about pay with my coworkers. My manager has already said we aren’t allowed to bring up our pay.
I’m considering writing an email demanding more pay anyway, but I’m not sure how I’d go about doing that without putting down my coworkers, since I’m sure my boss would just immediately respond with “tHeY hAvE mOrE eXpErIeNcE”. Yeah, but they’re TEENAGERS, and their skill level is really showing that!! I’m just so fucking frustrated.