'I noticed my pay getting shorter and shorter': Server exposes boss for putting a cap on his tips and trying to cover it up

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 24, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

Let this story serve as a friendly reminder to be generous to your servers because you really do not know what shady behavior they have had to deal with on the job. Of course, this includes entitled customers and Karens who make their shifts a living nightmare by starting drama, sending food back and forth, and tipping poorly. However, it does not necessarily stop there.

Every server has also encountered shady management at some point as well. In this case, we have a server who worked for a small, local restaurant that served authentic Thai food. Although things seemed to be off to a good start, the Redditor started to notice that his pay was getting smaller and smaller, eventually discovering that his manager was putting a cap on his tips and was attempting to disguise this change as decreased hourly pay.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. When you're done, check out this story about a boss and his feud with his team over a stereo. 

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  • 01
    "Is My Boss In The Wrong for Capping My Tips?"
    via R. Mac Wheeler
  • 02
    Posted by u/Far_Ambition_1606 1 day ago Is My Boss In The Wrong for Capping My Tips?
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 03
    A few months ago, I started working at a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves authentic thai food, owned by a nice old couple. All of my friend group had worked there as it was close to our university and this old couple was clearly understaffed. By the time my friend group graduated, everyone had amicably
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 04
    quit due to moving out of the city, and I remained the ONLY employee of this restaurant. It took me a while to get the hang of things, stop making mistakes, learn the menu, etc... But eventually I became very comfortable with the job and since it's a serving gig, I was pulling in around $300 a week.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 05
    My problem began sometime within the first two weeks - I noticed my pay getting shorter and shorter. My boss, who we'll call Y, refused to give me a tax form and insisted everything remain under the table. I argued and after some weeks, she finally gave me the form. Around that time, I noticed my pay kept
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 06
    getting smaller and smaller, until it seemed like I was almost making a flat rate every week. For context, I make $10 an hour along with any tips I bring in, and since NO ONE else works there besides me and the owners, my tips aren't dispersed among anyone in the restaurant they're all mine. I started counting -
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 07
    my tips after each shift so that I could anticipate exactly how much I would be earning every Tuesday when I was paid (always in cash), until one day I was anticipating roughly $310, and instead received $160. I knew something was wrong.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 08
    I confronted my employer about this, who said that my check would be coming and would offset what I felt I'd lost, as it was supposed to be hourly, which SHOULD make sense, right? It's pretty common that servers get their hourly in the form of a paycheck and tips in cash... When the check arrived, I was baffled
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 09
    to see that it was a total of $24, and the tips I received at the same time were $136. asked her nicely why it was so low, what exactly was on the check, and where it was coming from. Y proceeded to tell me that if I "make too much in tips", my hourly decreases. I then asked her exactly how much was too much in her eyes,
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 10
    and she said "$50 - $60" with a shrug. My rent is $1600 a month and I'm barely scraping by, and I'm sickened by the fact that my suspicions were true - she's been shorting me. I've decided to quit and find employment elsewhere.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 11
    Is it normal for employers to refuse tax forms in favor of under-the-table pay, supply "tip out" to the kitchen (herself and her husband), cap the amount of tips you can make as a a server, and cut your hourly entirely? RI genuinely hope I'm missing something, because up until this
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 12
    point, I've really liked my boss, but I just can't keep living off of peanuts. If someone with some insight on the situation could help, that would be great. If it helps for context, I live in Virginia.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 13
    Bageirdo517 23 hr. ago That is not normal. It is wage theft. Don't accept employment under the table without taxes, etc. Businesses have to do payroll. If you were in a position that you
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 14
    needed to buy a car right now or a home in the next few years, you're scr ved because you can't prove your income. You need to call your state's labor board, yesterday.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 15
    Secretnephew. 23 hr. ago Yep, sounds like they need a little visit from the labor board and very likely the IRS. That's very not ok.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 16
    InternationalGreen80 19 hr. ago This is blatant wage theft and if you choose to report them and go after them with an attorney they are going to end up paying a ton in fines and back pay to you.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 17
    bootlegenergy 21 hr. ago Second to all of the above, but also if you should ONLY be making 300 a week that's insane. I'm a server and do 1k weeks regularly. Regardless of how it goes down with the labor board you need to cut ties and find a better restaurant
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 18
    Pinkee808 21 hr. ago This is so illegal. Calling the labor dept is a must but I say go nuclear and call the IRS on them too. They're not reporting your income to anyone!
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 19
    pmarges 21 hr. ago I would report them without hesitation. They are stealing from you. I would also tell them you are going to report them. You owe them nothing.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 20
    Bageirdo517 20 hr. ago I wouldn't tell them. They're stealing and they can explain that to the labor board and the IRS without the benefit of preparation.
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 21
    hellostarsailor · 23 hr. ago ...you didn't quit immediately?
    via Far_Ambition_1606
  • 22
    The-Great-Beast-666 20 hr. ago If you report this your boss will get audited into oblivion
    via Far_Ambition_1606

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job server work restaurant server life reddit thread Reddit toxic-work-environment
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