The summer of 1967 when I turned 14 I was able to get a work permit (in LA Calif.) and worked full time as a dishwasher in a restaurant for the summer. The owner liked my work and created a job for me that was part time so I could continue to work when school started again. National minimum wage was $1.65 an hour and I was paid $1.35 perhaps because I was a student and maybe because I would make up the difference in tips. No one tips the dishwasher but the waitresses would share 10 percent of their tips when I filled in as a bus boy. Sorry to hear that most states allow $2.13 so many years later as long as the tips bring it up to the national minimum wage of $7.25. Another injustice was the full grown man with a family that I replaced when he went home to Mexico was only making $1.10 an hour (19 percent less than a 14 year old kid) since he was here illegally and wouldn't complain.
There are good and bad workers in every industry. The good ones in restaurants work harder than a lot of other jobs for less money and deserve my generous tip.
There are good and bad workers in every industry. The good ones in restaurants work harder than a lot of other jobs for less money and deserve my generous tip.