The majority of restaurant servers make $2.13 an hour before taxes. They are required to purchase uniforms and claim all credit card tips, otherwise you pay allocated tips on your taxes if you claim less than minimum wage.

Often times, restaurants require the server to ‘tip-out’ other employees (i.e. bartender, host, and bus person), and if there isn’t a dishwasher, some restaurants require servers to wash dishes at the same hourly wage!

Generally restaurants don’t offer any type of insurance to their employees. Some servers are blessed to get half off their meal, but they are limited to what they can order and must pay taxes on the full price.

Here’s the best part; are you ready for this? The newest craze is also requiring a 5 percent tip-out to the business in order to cover their outrageous credit card expenses. That’s right; servers are paying to receive their tips!

Many servers work 2 to 3 jobs just to survive in this occupation. You do whatever it takes to pay the bills, and put food on your own kitchen table.

An assembly line of expenses only leads to a path of destruction!

Immorality at it’s best.

Lisa Helton

Winston-Salem, N.C.