Tipping

We had a good discussion on tipping on the Cafe. The subject started when a farmer posted that a couple at a pub in Bethlehem Pa refused to pay the required gratuity. The owner called the police and they were arrested.

That was after waiting in line to wait at a table for an hour to get their food. We always like to eat where the lot is full but don't like poor service more than anyone else.

I became a better tipper when a son worked the Roadhouse and I saw he made his money on tips. Of course I got great service and tipped him a twenty many times and told him thanks for the service.

We haven't eaten there since he went on to bigger things.

There is nothing better than a pleasant waiter or waitress who gets the job done and nothing worse than one who hates their job and acts like it.

I was surprised to learn that many did not know food service personnel do not fall under Federal Minimum wage law.

"The following categories of employees are exempt from both minimum wage and overtime pay requirements of the FLSA:

"White collar exempt" employees – executive, administrative, professional, computer professional, and outside sales representative employees – Section 213(a)(1) and 213(a)(17) (the latter section, applicable to computer professionals, specifies a minimum hourly rate of $27.63 per hour, which applies if the employee is not paid a minimum salary of $455 per week)

Employees of certain amusement or recreational establishments – Section 213(a)(3)

Employees involved in cultivation, propagation, catching, harvesting, or first processing at sea of aquatic forms of animal or vegetable life – Section 213(a)(5)

Certain agricultural employees of small farms or family-owned farms – Section 213(a)(6) – does not apply to farms operating in conjunction with other establishments, the combined business volume of which exceeds $10,000,000

Employees principally engaged in the range production of livestock – Section 213(a)(6)

Employees exempt under special certificates issued under Section 214 – Section 213(a)(7)
The 213(a)(7) exemption encompasses the following categories:
Learners – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – Section 214(a)
Apprentices – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – Section 214(a)
Messengers – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – Section 214(a)
Students employed in retail or service establishments – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – significant limitations on hours - Section 214(b)(1)
Students employed in agriculture – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – in compliance with child labor laws - Section 214(b)(2)
Students in institutions of higher education who are employed by their institutions – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – significant limitations on hours - Section 214(b)(3)
Handicapped workers – under special certificates issued by the Secretary of Labor – Section 214(c)
Students of elementary or secondary schools who are employed by their schools as part of the curriculum – in compliance with child labor laws – Section 214(d)
Employees of certain small local newspapers – Section 213(a)(8)
Switchboard operators for certain independently-owned public telephone companies – Section 213(a)(10)
Seamen on vessels other than American vessels – Section 213(a)(12)
Certain babysitters or companions for the elderly – Section 213(a)(15)
Criminal investigators paid on an availability pay basis – Section 213(a)(16)
Computer software professionals – Section 213(a)(17) (also noted at the beginning of this list) [note: although this appears in the "minimum wage and overtime exemptions" part of Section 213, it is really only an overtime exemption – to get the overtime exemption, the employer must pay the employee at least $27.63 per hour, i.e., a "minimum" wage, for all hours worked.]
Food Service

Are you a good tipper?

Ed Winkle