Sunday, September 6, 2009
A TRAVESTY IN AMERICA
A communication over a posted document at Change.org
Low-Wage Workers Routinely Cheated
by Leigh Graham >http://www.change.org/profile/view/194664
from >http://uspoverty.change.org/blog/view/low-wage_workers_routinely_cheated
A powerhouse of scholars has just released a comprehensive report documenting systemic, "widespread" wage violations in the low-wage market. 68% of more than 4,000 low-wage workers surveyed (average wage was $8.02/hour) had experienced at least one wage violation in the week prior. Wage violations included: not receiving overtime pay, not being given any breaks, having deductions illegally taken from paychecks, being forced to work past their scheduled finishing time, having their tips inappropriately garnished, and being paid less than the legal minimum wage. Critical to keep in mind as you advocate for workers' rights: the overall quality of the the workplace correlates strongly to the likelihood of wage violations.
by Leigh Graham >http://www.change.org/profile/view/194664
from >http://uspoverty.change.org/blog/view/low-wage_workers_routinely_cheated
A powerhouse of scholars has just released a comprehensive report documenting systemic, "widespread" wage violations in the low-wage market. 68% of more than 4,000 low-wage workers surveyed (average wage was $8.02/hour) had experienced at least one wage violation in the week prior. Wage violations included: not receiving overtime pay, not being given any breaks, having deductions illegally taken from paychecks, being forced to work past their scheduled finishing time, having their tips inappropriately garnished, and being paid less than the legal minimum wage. Critical to keep in mind as you advocate for workers' rights: the overall quality of the the workplace correlates strongly to the likelihood of wage violations.
Dirtdog replied
Truly one of the worst the restaurant owners in Florida who get away without paying minimum wage . a rate of 4.05 minus the tips declared on a 38 hr week equals 1.65 yup that's right a dollar sixty five .
I wish I knew which senator or congressman responsible for that huge stinking loophole .
most likely they'll blame it on senator Kennedy that just passed away . this loop hole ought to be closed amend that wide open lack of concern over the young waitresses .
the owner of one restaurant I frequent not only owns the restaurant but has two well over million dollar residences plus writes off one as a office and has another home in Hawaii geeez an still cry's poor mouth .
stinking sneaky restaurant owners should have to comply with the minimum wage effect but uses the loophole to pocket more money in they're own pockets .
Posted by DIRT DOG on 09/03/2009 @ 11:03AM PT > http://www.change.org/profile/view/571033
Thank you .
It really burns me up that the rich restaurant owners get away without paying minimum wages in Florida I am not sure of other states . But who ever created that loop hole for restaurant owners ought to be run out of town. They most likely voted themselves a fine raise in the process for taking advantage of thousands of restaurant waitresses and waiters A check for 1.65 yes a dollar sixty five cents is incredibly sad for a 36 hour week . And the waitress doesn't even get the right anymore to enter they're actual wage it is now tabulated from a percentage of they're sales rather than a entered actual amount . In some cases a customer will leave stiffing the waitress for whatever reason they could make up in most cases blaming the speed of the delivery in which the waitress has no control if the kitchen is backed up or not . but scraping on a tip is the customers way out of giving a respectable tip. It makes no difference to the restaurant owner they still deduct a percentage from the waitresses measly 3.25 or 4.05 an hour income . leaving her with a negative from the stiff of the tip . It is not far at all. The recent wage increase was a huge atrocity to the poor waitress . Please create more attributes to this scandalous effect and outright taking advantage of the waitresses .
I sure would like to know who's responsible for the loophole giving such rights to allow the restaurant owners to take advantage of the staff the way they do .
I wish I knew which senator or congressman responsible for that huge stinking loophole .
most likely they'll blame it on senator Kennedy that just passed away . this loop hole ought to be closed amend that wide open lack of concern over the young waitresses .
the owner of one restaurant I frequent not only owns the restaurant but has two well over million dollar residences plus writes off one as a office and has another home in Hawaii geeez an still cry's poor mouth .
stinking sneaky restaurant owners should have to comply with the minimum wage effect but uses the loophole to pocket more money in they're own pockets .
Posted by DIRT DOG on 09/03/2009 @ 11:03AM PT > http://www.change.org/profile/view/571033
Thank you .
It really burns me up that the rich restaurant owners get away without paying minimum wages in Florida I am not sure of other states . But who ever created that loop hole for restaurant owners ought to be run out of town. They most likely voted themselves a fine raise in the process for taking advantage of thousands of restaurant waitresses and waiters A check for 1.65 yes a dollar sixty five cents is incredibly sad for a 36 hour week . And the waitress doesn't even get the right anymore to enter they're actual wage it is now tabulated from a percentage of they're sales rather than a entered actual amount . In some cases a customer will leave stiffing the waitress for whatever reason they could make up in most cases blaming the speed of the delivery in which the waitress has no control if the kitchen is backed up or not . but scraping on a tip is the customers way out of giving a respectable tip. It makes no difference to the restaurant owner they still deduct a percentage from the waitresses measly 3.25 or 4.05 an hour income . leaving her with a negative from the stiff of the tip . It is not far at all. The recent wage increase was a huge atrocity to the poor waitress . Please create more attributes to this scandalous effect and outright taking advantage of the waitresses .
I sure would like to know who's responsible for the loophole giving such rights to allow the restaurant owners to take advantage of the staff the way they do .
You ought to have a shame shame column to point out these senators and congressmen to such atrocious actions
As much spent in this country a scalper such as that should be pointed out with as much inconsideration as the rights of a fare wage they took away .
Sincerely Dirt dog
Posted by DIRT DOG on 09/04/2009 @ 11:09AM PT
"You ought to have a shame shame column to point out these senators and congressmen to such atrocious actions"
Now that's an interesting idea!
Posted by Leigh Graham on 09/04/2009 @ 11:15AM PThttp://www.change.org/profile/view/194664
Dirtdog's reply >http://www.change.org/profile/view/571033
From what I have been told by some unfortunate waitresses here in Florida . The facts they state is this the wage increase went up from 3.25 to 4.15 but the act of declaring an actual tip was thrown out an a register evaluation of sales in the effect of 17 % is deducted from they're sales regardless of the actual tip . In effect a sale of a hundred dollars the waitress pays out such a high tip tax in they're income upon receiving a usual 10 to 15 % tip the waitress makes up the difference falling behind severely when those that don't leave a tip at all due to an unforeseen instance this to me is absolutely outrageous. It may not be her fault as to the food coming out on time or something merely not prepared to the customers liking the hard working waitress gets the shaft inevitably putting one into a severely deflating spiral of poverty . meanwhile the restaurant owner feels no effect whatsoever . Most waitresses start several hours early preparing condiments preparations of table accessories etc n upon the end of they're shift no only clean up they're section but in full regards to the restaurant itself clean even the bathrooms and kitchen too . Which to me is absolutely atrocious after personally seeing a check for 1.65 for a 38 hour week . I asked well how many actual hours out of that was actual tip time involved "serving of food" between a 10 to 6 routine the serving times were from 11:30 to 4:30 so 5 out of 8 hours in so which actual 3 hours out of each and every day one has to either prep food additives topping and condiments plus kitchen details and table settings etc. and also cleaning of floors furniture and even the restrooms this loophole is at a travesty such wage is of a slave labor threshold it is actually amazing that these restaurant owners get away with such and in regards to the alternative the waitress is also forced to not only tip the bartender the seating hostess and also the busboy in which all of those above actually do get a minimum wage . further deteriorating they're income . Bearing witness to such saddens me to see such taking place here in America were they say equality amongst its citizens and a far minimum wage should be imposed and enforced with teeth in it these extraordinary loopholes should be closed , I may be an old man but in my day a waitress whom is handling my food and showing courtesy and a shining polite attitude and personality expediting a request in ordering also attending to trivial exceptions an request was tipped due to such performance levels over and above the standard form of service . but far to many times these things get overlooked and far too few actually realize such waitresses are being paid much less than the standard minimum wage . This becomes grossly abused when those that are from other states or countries where such wage levels are high taking it not into consideration of the waitresses actual wage an slip out on the tip completely letting the waitress holding up the taxed level out of they're own pay income . "holding the bag so to speak". This travesty is overwhelming when I myself thought the United States actually meant UNITED . I am actually disgusted in such loopholes and they should be closed throughout the entire United States . Somebody here ought to know who is responsible for these loopholes and brought to the attention to the entire country and the president. I bet he has no idea this is still taking place and has been the like for over 20 years . regardless I myself would like to know ?
"WHO'S RESPONSIBLE" ?
I myself will buy a 2.00 cup of coffee sit down at the table drink it and read my newspaper upon getting up I leave a twenty yes dammit a 20.00 . The next time I returned not only was my coffee on the table with extra cream and sugar a newspaper was left folded and the waitress remembered my name with a smile courtesy and a surprising politeness which actually made my day . It is to bad more in this country don't follow suite in such lead in regards to this over looked tragedy. our country is in dire shape this one pose is not going to make a severe difference but it has to start somewhere !
Posted by DIRT DOG on 09/05/2009 @ 06:38PM PT
Posted by DIRT DOG on 09/05/2009 @ 06:38PM PT
