Outback Steakhouse sticking it to servers
Establishment: Outback Steakhouse
Location: Vancouver, Wa
I work at the Outback in Vancouver, Wa. This past year servers have taken a hit with their tips. We have to pay out 3% to the house. EXCEPT management has cut back so much we basically no longer have a busser. Servers are given more tables but have no help from anyone as busser….lack of silverware on tables. Part of our tip out is to Bartenders even if we don’t use them they get 1% of tips plus they do not tip out. We must pay anywhere from 2-3% on credit card tips. Half the staff is dating each other and "friends" of management get better stations, large parties and scheduling perks….which is annoying because most of these people do not have any concept of sidework. Managers scream at employees, threaten their jobs if they break a dish! This establishment is at the Mall so tips are horrendous and walking with more than 10% is not the norm! Managers don’t care about server complaints because they have said go look for another job if you don’t like it.
I’d contact corporate, first. And requiring tipping back is ILLEGAL. Perhaps a visit from corporate, or labor and industries, etc, would change their tune? Any dangerous situations? Call OSHA. If they get enough fines (OSHA generally, if they fine you, fines in the THOUSANDS of dollars), perhaps they’ll sell to someone else. It’s a franchise, and corporate has a LOT of say in how things are run. If Washington State starts contacting corporate (not that they will, since they’re lazy and overpaid), corporate might force them out.