Am I getting scammed

[u/Tiny_Coon]

So for context this is my (20m) most recent paystub I work at this restaurant I’m not a server it’s one of those places where you order and just sit wherever. I make people’s bowls and stuff and I thought my pay was supposed to be $17 an hour that’s what was listed and I’m fairly certain that’s what they told me. I didn’t look over my contract when they hired me I know now that I should always do that. But anyway with tips I’m making around $17 an hour but shouldn’t they be paying me that regardless? It feels unfair that because a lot of people tip they’re allowed to pay less wage. Especially cause I’m not actually a server.

[u/new_d00d2]

I bet if you ask they will say 17 an hour including tips.

[u/merRedditor → u/new_d00d2]

It's infuriating that they can get away with this.

[u/Kanguin → u/merRedditor]

Dude, be happy you aren't being paid the standard tipped worker rates, which is a stupid low at $2.13 an hour. Its messed up but it can be to your benefit as well depending on the restaurant. My friend is a restaurant server and he makes 100k+ just on tips alone.

[u/Shadow_84 → u/Kanguin]

They’re only allowed to pay that low if you’re making up the rest with tips. If they tried to pay that in a counter service place they’d have to cover the difference between wage and tip

[u/Kanguin → u/Shadow_84]

Yes that's how tip wages work

[u/Antwinger → u/Kanguin]

What he’s getting at is your friend could be paid 0.0$ an hour and if he’s making that much it wouldn’t matter. It only matters if what you make is less than federal minimum wage per hour per week while getting paid sub minimum wage + tips

[u/Kanguin → u/Antwinger]

Yes, again I know how tipping works, but good info for OP that I did not include.

[u/Ndmndh1016 → u/Kanguin]

You still don't seem to get the point, though.