In the early months of the pandemic, it was easy to recognize that restaurant staff were among our most vulnerable categories of workers.
But then, that’s always been the case, hasn’t it?
Back in March 2020, a lot of restaurant waiters lost their jobs overnight. Many restaurants leaned on takeout orders to survive. Some closed anyway, while others pivoted to a new business model. When dining rooms did open up again, they were frequently understaffed. For the first time, it was common for customers to see signs pleading for patience due to staffing shortages and related causes of anxiety.
During, and after, the pandemic, it became pretty common for customers to toss in a few extra percentage points on tips to support struggling restaurant workers. It’s a reminder to parties on both sides of the transaction of the true value of wait staff.
A recent settlement is a reminder that restaurant work has always been a perilous career choice. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded more than 100 restaurant workers a total of $858,000 in back pay and damages. For some, that reportedly amounts to just $40, less than the cost of a typical meal in the six restaurants that have to pay the penalty. But the agency reported that the wages and damages run as high as $55,000 for some recipients.
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