In these pages recently ("A consistent minimum wage would advance pay equity," May 10), an attempt was made to garner support for convening a state wage board on the basis of an anecdotal description that suggests some restaurant servers must make a living on $5 per hour base pay. This description was sorely lacking in fact and deserves correction.
Tipped employees are always guaranteed the full minimum wage by law, either through a combination of wages and tips or, if tips are insufficient, the employer must pay the full minimum wage.
Just as the regular minimum wage employees saw an increase granted by the Legislature last year, so too will tipped employees if they only make that much.
In fact, according to occupational wage data compiled by the state Department of Labor, wait staff in New York have a mean annual salary of $24,070.
Assuming someone works 40 hours a week full-time, this works out to $11.47 an hour, well above the minimum wage.
Restaurant service can make or break an entire evening. We have a system in place that protects restaurant servers to ensure they receive minimum compensation equivalent to minimum wage.
We say, if you work extra hard and make the dining experience for our guests a special one, you have the capability to make much, much more.
Rick J. Sampson
President and CEO, New York State Restaurant Association
Albany