ugh. I should report them for you, its illegal for them to use tips as wages.

Posted By Monkeybun on 02/04/2011 08:22 PM
ugh. I should report them for you, its illegal for them to use tips as wages.

employers are allowed to take a tip credit,, that is essentially pay a lower minumum wage for a job that normally gets tips. the amount varies by state. WA state does not allow emplyers to do this. i think it would be more satisfying to inform him of the law and watch him squirm first.

tell him you’re in school taking classes to be an IRS auditor

look at the labor law poster that is required to be posted in any workplace.. an employer cannot fire you for reporting them for a labor violation

Ugh I saw this title and I really hoped it wasn’t yours….I’m sorry Britt

I can help you try to get hired at starbucks, I am really cool with my manager and she could send and email to their store manager or call. I already told you this before offer still stands!

Brittany,
Take Lintini up on her offer asap. Go find a new job now. Do not wait. Do not tell him you are reporting him. Quit as soon as you can. By the way, as obnoxious as they may be regarding hours, your local mall is chock full of stores that can’t keep employees for more than a week, so plenty of openings, they are national chains so have more at stake if they do anything illegal (main offices catch and fire manager thieves. I know – I worked for one once) and you can usually get the hours you want only and say no to any shift changes. I am talking interim job while you and Lintini get you into Starbucks. Anyway, after you leave (not necessarily after you get a new job) so you are safely away from this new guy, report him to the IRS and the Better Business Bureau. You can do it anonymously. Just call your local gov’t. office and say you want to report an employer who is illegally taking your tips and has underaged staff, but you are scared. Ask them to connect you to the appropriate branch to assist you. Then walk away.

P.S. Usually the only tips that pay well are those for either bartending or for waitressing in high end restaurants. Otherwise, you may be better off getting a basic pay that’s low but steady at a non-food service job. I mean, try a local small shop run by a private owner that has a nice theme and clientelle, like a Hallmark store for example, so you know the hours are reasonable ahead of time. Sometimes small private owners are lovely people, sometimes the opposite – they’re the ones that no one would ever employ so they had to go into business for themselves! Consider your options. Personally, I like a nice art supply store or hand-crafted art gift shop.

OK, scratch the mall.
Don’t forget that every large museum has a gorgeous gift shop. Nice place to work, same pay rates, better hours. Actually, any arts organization often has some basic entry level jobs, like receptionists, or box office admissions and staff. If there are any theatres, museums, discovery centers near you, it’s usually a nicer environment while working with the public. Even lunch cafes in those places will nab you the same tips or better.

I’m so sorry to hear your new job isn’t going well 🙁 I’ve had a couple very very bad bosses so I completely sympathize. I hope you find something else soon!

Another option – have you applied to any grocery stores? Being a cashier isn’t really the most fun thing, but they often have other positions open for those who are 18 and older. I worked at a photolab in a grocery store one summer and it was a great job.

I played grocery store stocker from age 17-27 (at a local chain now owned by safeway). i used to love engaging management in verbal debates. so much so that they would take a detour down a different isle to avoid me.

No matter what, don’t give up! Make those calls and send in those applications! If you were anywhere near a Tiffany store I’d try to help you out, but I don’t know if that’s your gig. Oh if there’s a Vitamin Shoppe nearby I might be able to help – I used to work for corporate and still have contacts in retail.

Posted By Brittany on 02/07/2011 11:52 AM
Elrohwen, I have applied at a grocery store nearby. I have a feeling that the hiring manager gets lots of calls and when I called the beginning of this month, she sounded very annoyed with me

I’m going to keep trying until I get an interview.
I have a reference to the store as well.. *shrug*

I’m surprised! At least the places like me are *always* hiring – they can’t keep people in those positions. I hope you find something soon!

Posted By Brittany on 02/07/2011 12:39 PM
I applied and had a phone interview with a vitamin shop (Super Supplements) but I didn’t get the job. -___-

I’m gonna keep trying.

If you see “The Vitamin Shoppe” let me know – it’s a national chain. 

Brittany: I know for sure that the reporting process is private or it wouldn’t work I would definitely report. Not to mention once you do it there are strict rules in place to protect you in case there is retaliation of some sort which could definitely end up given him a bad day no matter the outcome lol

At least you’re getting paid. My job has this issue with paying me tips we do for parties. Is it privately owned? I work at a privately owned “dave and busters” type place, making 2.83/hour in PA which is ALSO an at will state. Totally shady owners as well. Stinks for sure. My employer takes out credit card tips, because our computer system automatically report them. No one EVER reports cash tips we get, and we’ve caught our people reporting more tips than we have. We’ve called them on it, but the damage is done, you know?

In my experience, family owned places are either super awesome, or super poopy! Everyone has offered awesome suggestions, and I really hope things work out better for you when you switch jobs!!! Good luck girl!

My bosses daughter just had a baby and I’ve been trying to get ahold of her for you. I haven’t forgotten at all. Just need to get a chance to speak to her.

Did you submit online applications then hand deliver your own resume to the individual starbucks? So many teenagers apply to starbucks with no work experience, when you walk in dressed up with a resume ready it really WOWS them! Also ….call the stores back often and ask for the manager or assistant manager and ask about your application status. I’ll see what my manager can do.

After I quit, I am reporting their asses to L&I. Remember, Washington is an ‘at will state’ which means I can be fired for absolutely anything

WOW I know I am late…but seriously is that the law??? OMG How terrible!!! I was going to say, although the law protects you (which it may not) what I’ve found at work is working for a big corporation (which is corporate run, not a franchise) works. A small business or a franchise…more then likely will treat you wrong as they often aren’t called on it, whereas a big corporation won’t because they don’t want a lawsuit etc….but seriously is that the way the law works!? OMG that’s terrible *hugs*

wow, thats crazy. I always give tips at my corner starbucks, unless I am in a rush and use my credit card in the drive thru. But then I make it up to the people the next time I go in

K&K, yes. Washington is an at-will state. I don’t know how it became that way. There are some labor unions in the state that protect its workers from being fired, but employees have to pay into that sort of thing.

The “at will” clause is used in almost all states. Basically, an employee can quit at will and an employer can fire at will.

Brittany – I would quit. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Oh I know you can’t just quit. It would be nice, but not responsible.