Activist doesn't tip white waitress, boasts of his achievement.

[TerranceL]

I'm sure you were one of the many posters decrying the treatment of the waiters, or did you look for any evidence of wrongdoing on the waiter's part?

At the time I posted online that I don't understand why someone would be to petty and stupid to someone who serves them food.

Later I saw a report that the family denies the accusation and even showed proof that they tipped the gay woman 18 bucks, I saw a thread about it here and posted that.

 

[William67]

And they say the USA has abolished slavery.

Limited slavery was enacted in October, 1913 in the form of the Revenue Act of 1913. Universal slavery was reinstituted in 1916 with the ratification of the 16th Amendment.

 

[Dave-W]

and a friend wrote on their cafe bill: ‘We will give tip when you return the land.’

That is in England. Return "the land" to whom exactly? The Pre-Roman Celts?

 

[Dave-W]

But why don't the business owners pay the full amount, like all other businesses? Why are restaurants exempt?

Because of tips.

 

[Dave-W]

I think that they have to write down the tips they get, and if they get tipped less than the real minimum wage, the restaurant owner has to make up the difference.

Not necessarily. It varies by state. But even in states where that is mandated, many employers force their workers to write down that they did make enough in tips (even if they made nothing) so they do not have to pay.

 

[Dave-W]

She's white and from South Africa.

So - to answer my earlier question - she is to leave South Africa and move back to - - - England?

Isn't she already there?

 

[Dave-W]

Would like to see a handwriting expert look at this.

Why? Is this a court of law? Do we need a DNA analysis of sweat and oils on the bill?

 

[Citanul]

That is in England. Return "the land" to whom exactly? The Pre-Roman Celts?

So - to answer my earlier question - she is to leave South Africa and move back to - - - England?

Isn't she already there?

The incident happened in South Africa - both parties involved are South African. He's currently a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, but he was back in South Africa, presumably between terms.

 

[Oafman]

That is in England. Return "the land" to whom exactly? The Pre-Roman Celts?

Why not? Everyone else is a bloody immigrant, who should be sent back to where they came from. Especially the Norse invaders. Anyone called Johnson should be put on a longboat back to Norway.

 

[Oafman]

I don't want to make excuses for this guy, who acted like a jerk. But it's worth remembering the recent history of where he grew up.

It makes no sense to blame a waitress though.

 

[Dave-W]

The incident happened in South Africa - both parties involved are South African. He's currently a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, but he was back in South Africa, presumably between terms.

My bad - I thought since the article was in a UK newspaper and he was a student at Oxford that it took place there.

 

[Locutus]

Simple, greed.

Most businesses are fundamentally greedy and will do anything to save money. Take Walmart for instance. Walmart has horrific business practices for their employees. They purposefully schedule and employ in such a way as to deny full-time status to as many of their workers as possible. Similarly, Walmart actually uses food stamps and government assistance as a business strategy. They have actual workshops and meetings for their employees on "how to apply for food stamps and government assistance"

Sure, not all businesses are cut throat like this, but a fair amount of them are. This is why minimum wage laws exist. "some" businesses abuse their employees and employ strategies that seek to skimp and save as much money as possible. If they can transfer the onus onto customers to pay their employees then they will.

Well yes, all business is profit driven and seeks to minimise costs, but why restaurants in particular? I mean our restaurants don't, and I know in plenty of other places they don't. Is there some exemption law in America? It just seems bizarre to me that one industry can do this while others can't.

 

[Locutus]

I feel so bad for waiters. There is no way I'd be a good one. Especially if I had to smile and pretend to be happy to them. Lol.

Regardless, I'm sure there's an app out there for restaurant staff to keep track of rude customers who refuse to tip. Spitty spitty, lol.

We have no tipping culture here. People do, sometimes, but it's not expected.

 

[Locutus]

That wasn't the question.

Question was - Where DO you live, where the hourly pay for a waitress is $25 an hour?

Follow-up question: What is the after tax take-home pay? (what percentage does the government take?)

I live in a western socialist democracy

Meantime, few wait staff pay tax. It's almost all cash and off the books. Some higher end places have their staff on payroll, and lower down the ladder there might just be the chef and maitre de on the books. Everyone else is on the QT.

 

[Dave-W]

Is there some exemption law in America? It just seems bizarre to me that one industry can do this while others can't.

Yes - several service industries where tips/gratuities are customary have lower minimum wages. Food service workers are one such group; bell hops and red coats are another. (where they are not unionized)

There is another exemption (that may have been closed recently) for farm workers.

 

[Locutus]

Because of tips.

Yes, but chickens/eggs. How did restaurants come to the conclusion that they could get away it? I mean, restaurants in other countries haven't reached that conclusion, so what's the crucial difference there?

 

[Locutus]

Yes - several service industries where tips/gratuities are customary have lower minimum wages. Food service workers are one such group; bell hops and red coats are another. (where they are not unionized)

There is another exemption (that may have been closed recently) for farm workers.

These jobs exist in other countries but staff earn decent money, whether they receive tips or not. Mysterious!

 

[HannahT]

This type of activism always backfires today. People cross the line, and act like idiots...and gofundme pages pop up. It does harm to their cause, and normally them as well. I think at times people forget there is line that should not be crossed, because they are so laser focused on one aspect they completely miss the overall picture.

 

[JustOneWay]

Limited slavery was enacted in October, 1913 in the form of the Revenue Act of 1913. Universal slavery was reinstituted in 1916 with the ratification of the 16th Amendment.

Imposing taxes is not akin to slavery. Every citizen who was taxed had the freedom to leave the country. Slaves do not have that option.

 

[Dave-W]

These jobs exist in other countries but staff earn decent money, whether they receive tips or not. Mysterious!

Not mysterious - just plain old unregulated capitalism. (lassez faire)

And for a long time there was a huge underground market of day labor for construction, janitorial and other unskilled service type jobs. It still exists but is much smaller than 5-10 years ago. A lot was "day labor" that paid in cash and off the books well below minimum wage; but since most of the workers were undocumented, they could not go to tell the authorities or they would be deported.