> Mister2:
> I totally agree with you and like your management attitude/style.
> I'd sling for you, anyday.
> That being said, how's this for a scenario: The last bar I worked for
> NEVER paid me. After the first week-no check. I mentioned it to the
> other tenders, and, No, they hadn't been paid either. Second week-no
> check. Nobody else either. We ask the owners, as there was no
> manager, and got no response. Third week-no check. We ask again, to
> no response. Fourth week, no check. We ALL ask together, evasion and
> no answer. We all walk at the same time. Turns out, after research,
> that the owners have done this all along with every bartender they've
> had.
> Wouldn't have been so bad if not for the fact that on some nights,
> not ONE warm body in the place, so NO tippage.
> Talk about indentured servitude.
> But at least I didn't have to train my replacement.
> Moe S.
Just out of curiousity, about how many hours a week were you working, and
about how much were you making in tips? It may be that the bulk of your
paycheck (assuming you're in the US and getting paid 2.13 an hour) went to the
IRS, depending on how much you were claiming.
On the flip side of that coin, even if that's the case, you should be getting
weekly statements stating your hours worked, your wages earned, and your taxes
paid to the IRS. If I were you, after about the second week, I'd talk to the
owners and ask for a check within 48 hours. If it wasn't produced by then (48
hours is fair to cut a check - you want to give them a fair shot to make it
right), I'd go to the labor board and/or the state AG office and file suit.
At that point, fuck it.
And no managers? How did you check out at the end of the night? Did you
check yourselves out, or were the owners in every night? Either the owners
were acting as managers, or you are the most honest group of bartenders I've
ever heard of - it only takes one dishonest one to spoil the group, given the
opportunity.