There CUTTING my pay what am I going to do???

[0%angel]

Ok im going to go ahead and appoligize for my bad spelling but im mad and well just not a very good speller.

1st off I have been a server at the same resturant for the last 6 years. I am what they call a service trainer. I have many many obligations i quess you would say and I do alot of EXTRA stuff at my job. At the end of last year we got a new corporate guy. He change alot of how we ran things at our resturants. He changed the requirments to recive the better level of insurance and vaction pay. I now have to keep an average of 38 hours. this is not a problem, but when its slow I useally am the 1st to get cut off the floor since I am a higher payed employee. Well yesterday my general manager came to me and said that in the next few days the district manager will be talking to me about a pay cut. She also told me that the corporate has decide to put a cap on what servers can make an hour. Now heres were i get upset 6 years ago i was hired in at $4.00 an hour then when i became a trainer i got a 1.00 raise. then through out the other years i recieved several other raise bringing me to were i am at now $8.75 an hour. The cap for servers rate is now $3.75. I AM LOSING $5.00 AN HOUR> I added it up thats 1,000 a month. I dont make alot of tips for this to be acceptable. Im scared and have no clue what to do. Today my distrct manager brought in a paper for me to sign saying he has informed me about the pay cut. I explained to him I have seeked legal assisatince and before i sign it i will need my attorny to look at it. He was so mad at me.
He told me that what was going on his legal and that I dont have to sign it but in the next few weeks i will see a change on my paycheck.

Needless to say I am in search of another job and possibly an lawyer that can explain to me whats going on.

PLease please if you have any advice or know of someone who can help me understand how this is right please let me know...

[rbunnymom]

Sorry this is happening to you. I don't know the legalities, etc but wanted to mention you may find help at your local employment office (where you would apply for unemployment). HTH

[CouponSAHM]

go get legal advice for sure!! Maybe even talk with someone at your unemployment office. I would imagine that if you refuse the paycut maybe you would then have to be laid off and elligble for unemployment benefits.

[justmeagain]

Is there any way you could contact the TOP of the TOP.......I mean the BIG guy......and explain how long you have been there, your paycut and how you can't live on that etc......state your case and why you a valuable asset to them........hopefully the big person in charge can show some compassion and maybe "grandfather" your rate of pay or something........a 5.00 paycut is crazy.

[Riann216]

I'm pretty sure that you have to make atleast minimum wage after tips. If you are not making enough in tips to get you to the minimum wage where you live, then your employer must make up for it. Make sure you keep track of your hours because they could get in BIG trouble if they fail to make up for it.

My ex got laid off while we were together and became a server at outback and explained all of this to me when I asked why they were allowed to pay such low wages to servers. Not that it is a huge help but in Florida minimum wage is 7.21 right now but will be 7.25 in June or July, atleast that way if you were in Florida you would only be losing a 1.50/hr instead of 5. Make sure you check into that!!

[meggers]

Refusing the paycut was a very smart thing to do, imo. Maybe he knew you would have to agree to that or be fired, which would likely give you a bigger check than what they want you to work for. Like everyone else said: call the unemployment office & seek their advice. Best wishes...

[purplefdu]

Definitely look into state minimum wage (should be posted next to time clock or in employee area as required by law) versus federal minimum wage. Tips plus hourly is required to add up to that. Period. There should be a number to call for help on that same sign, as well as unemployment office.

Unfortunately they may be able to ask you to take a paycut, I'm not sure of that, but they do still have to pay you fairly based on law. Also ask yourself if you want to continue working for such a company knowing they may do the same thing down the road. Servers are always getting hired and you have 6yrs experience.

[0%angel]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I am looking for a new job its just sad cause I really like it there. (maybe it was just the fact that i was payed so well ha ha)I cryed myself to sleep last night. I actully picked up a few applications today and was early for work so I sat down and filled them up (not in my work clothes street clothes) when my district manager showed up and wanted to talk to me about my pay cut he mentioned I was making a pretty bold statement by filling them out there. No statement was just bored and had an hour before I had to clock in. Im just scared the work force right now isnt to good, and it seems that many people are not hiring like they use to. Plus I do live in a college town so when the students leave for the summer things are pretty quiet. Anyway wish me luck in finding a new job.

[Whispered]

ok, first what state and city are you in?
I've been/ was in the biz, for over 20 yrs..
Anyone who knows the ww biz, frankly, i'll be honest..
you're screwed... they won't pay you that money.

gawd , i'm soo blunt.. sorry, but honest..

What kind of restaurant, like dennys, or 3 star or...??

BUT... ok, the deal is though, think of this as being provided an opportunity...have you ever done catering?
Great money!!! Fun.. .. I miss catering and would go back in a flash, if I didn't have Ra..(rhematoid arthritis).

Also, working in HOTELS, (3 stars and up) as a banquet waitress,
really really good $$. Hard work, find out if they carry trays, or by hand.. If you carry trays, really hard on your body!!
Yet fun parties. Plus I remember staying late often, just to fill the salt and pepper shakers for 12 bucks an hr!
This was at the Hilton.

If you're not working , at a place that charges at least $$15 bucks for A meal, go start applying at those places.
They want experience and college kids, won't have it.

*Try and find places, that have mandatory tips, included for parties of 5 or more.
I've worked at some really nice places, where gratituity is automatically included.. ahh bliss!!

The rich are going to keep having parties and go out to eat and go to banquet functions.

So boils down new places, to look:
CATERING.. (which is a blast, plus you get tips and food!)
(You can usually work for several different companies..make a very decent living at that. I worked pt 20 hrs. and got ft pay. Think fun parties, weddings. I worked at a San Diego Zoo party, catering for the ultra rich, it was great, soo much fun! and was right there, when they were leading the elephants around!.. I have tons of great stories!! lol
So obviously this is my fav

HOTELS~ 3=5 star**

UPPER DINING CLASS

ohh Bed and Breakfast Inns, some have dinners, and usually priced high.

Oh, strange fact.. but buffets, which are easy to work, you actually make better money!!

(and ohh you probably know this, but try Never to work on Sundays!!..eek
(unless a buffet and guaranteed tip )).

So good luck, and think of this as a great new opportunity, tho i know it sucks now...

I wish you the best!!

Keep us updated ~

Blessings and Joy
Whispered~

[gettinrevvin2007]

Call a local lawyer's office. There is an 1-800 #, that you can call to get legal help. It's usually a free 45 min. consultation. At least you would know where you stood, and whether to pursue it or not.