Hey, I live in Tennessee and I'm a bus boy. I get paid 7.50 an hour. So, the waitresses get all the tips off the tables and each put 5 in a jar for the bus boys. We don't get any tips except for the 5 that they take off our checks. So 7.50 and hour, 5 an hour in cash (from waitresses) and 2.50 on our checks. Is this legal? If you find an answer please post proof too, thanks.
Answers (2)
Yes it seems that it is legal if you receive a wage and a tip on top which both together brings you up or above minimum wage.
"Recipients of tips in shared tip restaurants may be paid a "tip-credit wage", below the ordinary minimum wage in the United States, if the amount of shared tips in a pay period brings their average pay to the minimum wage. Federal subminimum wage is set at $2.13 per hour, though state and local laws may require higher rates. California, for example, requires tipped employees be paid full minimum wage."
