By Christie Duffy
Correspondent
On a sunny day like today, business is booming at this Westfield restaurant. But when it rains or when there is a winter storm, it may be a different story.
“When I first got married I was still waiting tables, so I was, you know, supporting a family and things like that and I actually became a manager because I started having children and couldn’t afford the inconsistency and the low hourly wage. I couldn’t support a family like that,” said Westfield restaurant General Manager Quinten Jordan.
Jordan moved into management at this restaurant after years of waiting tables. He says he’d like to give his servers more money, but it would be difficult.
“It would definitely have to require more management on my end making sure that our numbers don’t suffer. But I think ultimately happy servers make happy guests,” he said.
Jordan says his busing staff and other workers at the restaurant all got a raise this year, when the minimum wage was hiked. But tipped workers are treated differently.
A new report from New Jersey Policy Perspective — a non-profit research group — points to how tipped workers in our state make the lowest wages in the region: $2.13 per hour. That’s right in line with the minimum required for tipped employees under federal law.
“There is a real simple solution to this — get rid of the special law that affects only tipped workers. Make sure everyone who works makes at least $8.25,” said Gordon MacInnes of New Jersey Policy Perspective.
Some dining outside today agreed.
“I don’t think anyone should work for less than minimum wage. And the minimum wage should be a livable minimum wage,” said Union resident Lou Alt.
“I think they work very hard and it’s probably fair they earn a little bit more. I mean, costs are high,” said Anne Gallarto of Springfield.
New Jersey Policy Perspective’s research also states that tipped workers are twice as likely to live in poor households or lack health insurance than non-tipped workers. And they say New Jersey is falling behind. The tipped minimum wage here has lost half its value to inflation since its last increase over 20 years ago.
“We’re not talking about $20 per hour, or $15 per hour. We’re talking about $8.25. Nobody should be working in New Jersey for less,” said MacInnes.
But the National Restaurant Association says raising wages could impact you, the consumer. They say restaurants could raise their prices, cut back on employee hours altogether or even stop hiring.
“There would be a lot of restaurants in the state that would go out of business. There are a lot of restaurants in the state that are still in the recession,” said New Jersey Restaurant Association Chairwoman Nancy Laird.
The New Jersey Restaurant Association says tipped workers across the state should already be making minimum wage. Employers are required to pay tipped employees the difference, if that worker is not earning at least $8.25 an hour in tips and wages.
But those in the industry admit it’s a tough mandate to enforce, and that some businesses may not always comply.
“It’s totally on the worker to report to the manager or the owner, ‘Gee, last week I didn’t make $8.25.’ It’s a cash deal. Who’s gonna check that?” asked MacInnes.
A White House report acknowledges that enforcement is a challenge, stating, “Raising the full minimum wage without also raising the tipped minimum wage [which is what we did here in New Jersey this year] could exacerbate noncompliance.”
The New Jersey Department of Labor enforces the law on employers who don’t comply.