Allison Rybsky has been a server at Driftwood Bar and Grill in Novi for two years. In addition to waiting tables, she sweeps, mops and completes other cleaning tasks before clocking out.
She worries that increasing the state minimum wage to $11.73 from $3.84 for tipped workers may prompt layoffs, fewer tips and more work, as owners shift more responsibilities to servers.
“Because a server is tipped so high and makes a high wage (employers) are going to expect a lot,” Rybsky said. “(Servers) are going to have to do everything, and it’s impossible when you’re waiting on tables.”
“As much as I would like to make more money an hour, I don't think in the long run it's going to work,” she said. “There are nights where I come in here for four or five hours, and I make $500.”
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