Applebees

[hops_scout]

<p>

Why do we excuse employers from the minimum wage? If we’re going to have a minimum wage, then it should apply to all employers of unskilled labor.

</p>

<p>Thank you! Agree completely!</p>

[lerkin]

<p>

Why do we excuse employers from the minimum wage? If we’re going to have a minimum wage, then it should apply to all employers of unskilled labor.

</p>

<p>But it does apply. The waiters are guaranteed minimum wage by federal law. Even if all the do is wait on the likes of hop_scout.</p>

<p>

Classic demand and supply, which apparently some businesses don’t want to live by, so they game the system by getting exemptions granted by local legislatures.

</p>

<p>This sentence is a contradiction. Apparently the supply of people willing to take tipped jobs is more than enough for employers to continue offering such low wages. Should people stop taking such low wages, the employers would raise them.</p>

[hops_scout]

<p>

Even if all the do is wait on the likes of hop_scout.

</p>

<p>Wow. </p>

<p>

Should people stop taking such low wages, the employers would raise them.

</p>

<p>Haven’t paid too much attention, huh? Is that what the farmers did? Or wait, no they just went down to Mexico and brought up illegal immigrants “because nobody wants these jobs.”</p>

[rebeccar]

<p>

Why do you think that anyone that has posted here doesn’t tip? Do you have any evidence here? The Duke Lacrosse case was about false accusations. If you don’t have any evidence to back up an accusation, then you are a false accuser.

</p>

<p>Are you seriously comparing my opinion about how the decent thing is to tip your waiter to a false rape accusation?? Come on. Where is your “evidence” that I accused anyone of not tipping? I used the general “you.” Nowhere did I say “hops<em>scout does not tip and that’s why I think yadda yadda.” But I should point out that nowhere did s/he deny the suggestion. Hops</em>scout DID include herself in the people who are against tipping. That is what my argument was spun off of.</p>

[lerkin]

<p>

No, when I pay $15 for a small steak at Applebee’s, that price should include the service!

</p>

<p>Hops_scout, I am wowed too.</p>

<p>

Haven’t paid too much attention, huh? Is that what the farmers did? Or wait, no they just went down to Mexico and brought up illegal immigrants “because nobody wants these jobs.”

</p>

<p>Actually, I did. I always stated that we should protect our borders and enforce the employment laws on the books. If we did that, “nobody would go to Mexico to bring up illegal immigrants” and the law of supply and demand would work. That is all I am going to say on this subject to avoid discussing politics.</p>

[scansmom]

<p>So why not just do away with ALL minimum wage laws completely, in all industries and just let employers pay what they want? There will always be somebody who will work for next to nothing. Surely that is what a “true” capitalist society would do? ;)</p>

[lerkin]

<p>Scansmom,</p>

<p>actually, why not? As soon as minimum wage increases, so do the prices. If you ask a person who makes minimum wage about whether or not their life improved with the minimum wage increase, what do you think their answer is?</p>

<p>I am actually only half serious here. I am not advocating that there should not be any protections for the workers on the law books. I just think that minimum wage defined by politicians is kind of ridiculous. </p>

<p>P.S. OT: How do you get the emoticon to work?</p>

[cartera45]

<p>

they just went down to Mexico and brought up illegal immigrants “because nobody wants these jobs.”

</p>

<p>Don’t generalize that they just brought up illegal immigrants. When my dad could no longer find help on the farm, he used migrant farm workers, but there was nothing illegal about it and it was very expensive to do so.</p>

[scansmom]

<p>Lerkin, see Help & Rules, it’s buried a little but there is a list of characters for emoticons:</p>

<p>[College</a> Confidential - Smilies](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/misc.php?do=showsmilies]College”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/misc.php?do=showsmilies)</p>

[lerkin]

<p>Scansmom,</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

[LakeWashington]

<p>Don’t want to get too off-thread, but large groups of employers HAVE gained the system by using whatever legal means to lure greater numbers of external competition into the labor market, thereby maintaining downward pressure on wages. Author and economist Nicholas Kristof has described this as the little-talked about impact of immigration, let alone illegal immigration.</p>

[lerkin]

<p>

Author and economist Nicholas Kristof has described this as the little-talked about impact of immigration, let alone illegal immigration.

</p>

<p>OT, I know, but I wonder what’s his view on outsourcing is. And more importantly, what is his proposed solution?</p>

[argbargy]

<p>

By that theory, every sales clerk should be paid a couple of bucks an hour and depend on tips. So I’d generously tip the shoe store employee who makes multiple trips to the back room to bring out boxes of shoes while I hem and haw, the liquor store employee who helps select me an appropriate bottle of wine, the department store employee who rings up my purchase with a smile and some cordial conversation–but give less to the shoe store employee who keeps disappearing when I need a different size, the liquor store employee who makes me wait while he finishes a personal call, and the department store clerk who won’t look me in the eye or speak a word to me. Of course all that would be absurd.

</p>

<p>Actually given your examples they sounds like they would fit the (my) tipping criteria: can this person exert their influence to make your experience better. If someone is really digging around on the top shelves for the right shoes for you or providing expertise on wine then they are providing a service. </p>

<p>Maybe the way their compensation is structured the best way of reciprocating is an email to the company praising their performance.</p>

[MD_Mom_1]

<p>Some of those sales people may earn commissions…</p>

[scansmom]

<p>…but probably paid more than $2.13/hr</p>

[sorghum]

<p>

I guarantee it is not going to be a wash. Last time I checked, barristers at Starbucks were paid more than minimum wage.

</p>

<p>They deserve it because of their high level of legal education …</p>

[worriedmom777]

<p>People here claim that waiters and waitresses in Europe are paid decently. Well, in Germany they make about 11 to 13 dollars per hour and they have to pay high taxes and other fees. So they will usually go home with about 9 dollars for an hour of work. In addition they have to pay taxes for tips which they are presumed to get from customers. It is therefore cheap not to tip for good service and 10% is good manners. Most people do it and there are even generous folks who will give 15%. If you do not give any tips for excellent service you should not come back although the server will still smile and try to be polite.
However, if the service is bad, one should not give a tip to let them know they have a dissatisfied customer. In general European staff have to serve more tables than people in the USA. A huge restaurant with one or two servers is common and therefore they are usually less attentive. Customers will have to call them if they want to order something else. In Germany many servers have to do an internship of 2 to three years, during which they only get a few hundred dollars a month. Customers may occupy a table for as long as they like and just sit there with a drink for the rest of the evening. </p>

<p>In the USA most people also tip for bad service. I find it difficult to tip a waiter or waitress who treats me with disdain, ignores my wishes, does not care for my needs and is generally very impolite. I usually give 15 % if my experience is a really bad one. In these cases I prefer the European system although it may leave the workers with very little money at the end of the day.</p>

[lerkin]

<p>

They deserve it because of their high level of legal education …

</p>

<p>True that. Those student loans don’t pay themselves.</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>Back on topic - a good article on Applebee’s response to the social media gaffes:</p>

<p>[Applebee’s</a> social media faux pas a ‘learning experience’ - Business on NBCNews.com](<a href=“http://www.nbcnews.com/business/applebees-social-media-faux-pas-learning-experience-1B8251556]Applebee’s”>Applebee's social media faux pas a 'learning experience')</p>

<p>

Finally, unable to keep up with the torrent of posts, the company decided late Thursday night to hide the contentious comment thread on their Facebook page, and replaced it with a status update containing the corporate statement.</p>

<p>“That was a terrible idea,” said Mayfield. “It seemed like they were deleting posts, which is the worst thing you could possibly do.”</p>

<p>Applebee’s Dan Smith insisted the company did not delete any comments or block any posts. He said . everything that had disappeared when the company hid its initial post, reappeared when the post was restored.

</p>

[barrons]

<p>The networld of just overrun with people who will rush to spout off crap about anything. I doubt most if any ate at Applebee’s even once a year. There was networld outrage in Seattle when HS sold the Sonics and Starbucks boycotts were called. Impact?? Not perceptible and stock has soared since. Same with Chick Fil A. Harm?? Less than zero–their base came more than ever. Most that complained never eat at a CFA anyway.</p>