Serving The Servers

My wife and I enjoy eating out at least three times a week. We both work and enjoy each other’s company over a meal. I tip. I don’t do it because I’m a terribly generous person. I do it because people working at local restaurants don’t make that much money…

The moratorium on dining out will create a terrible hardship on those people who make their living serving us. Because of the circumstances of the pandemic that grips our nation, I’m not going to second guess our leaders. I am making a plea to those of you who…..like me….support our local restaurants.

I called a local restaurant owner and asked him….what does a person working a dining room make?

Here’s the skinny. The owner said his waitresses make around $5.55 for those 18 years of age and older. If you are under 18, you make $4.80 an hour.  They survive on tips. He says 80-percent of what a waitress makes on her check is from tips from patrons. Let me emphasize-----80-percent.

Fairfield is a generous town. We tip north of 15-percent. Some people do considerably more than that.

That’s the math. You and I know this thing is not likely to end at the end of March. The potential effect of this on the lives of the people who can’t afford such a gut punch is catastrophic. 

I’m asking you…..for them….consider ordering a carry-out a couple of times a week. Pay your bill and then add 20-percent. That might be the difference in the lives of the people who work so hard to serve you….