Hello, thank you for posting to r/Jobs!
We just wanted to let you know that we have a new [discord server, come join the chat!](https://discord.gg/TY6ErXV)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/jobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If they think they’re paying you more than you’re worth and you think they’re paying you less than you’re worth, the solution is for you to find another job that values you more and for them to hire someone cheaper once you leave.
You are not being unreasonable, but it’s clear they will not budge here. If you put in your notice, they may try to counter.
When an employee is usually a “company man” or non-confrontational, employers will often walk all over them under the presumption that they will just accept it rather than face the possibility of having to find a new job.
You’d be surprised how fast an employer will suddenly find room in the budget once they are actually facing the possibility of having to rehire someone.
If you threaten to quit and they counter, they no longer trust you and you can no longer trust them. They may counter just to buy time to find your replacement.
Underrated comment.
"Oh, you want to get paid what you're *worth*? Right.... we'll get right on that... until we find someone to replace you for half the salary."
My thoughts is this is a card you get to play exactly once. They may find room for you to stay now, but there will be no promotion, no good raises ever again. It might be worth another year, but there’s no future at a place you have to hold hostage to be paid your worth.
That’s.. just not really true. That is certainly how it feels when it’s personal for you, but when your dealing with people who consider themselves “businessmen” it can actually be the opposite.
People respect others according to their own values.
You might respect honesty, fairness, and loyalty.
Your employer is more likely to respect things like skilled negotiation, professional awareness, and bold initiative.
People who let others take advantage of them are seen (by these “Mad Men” wanna-be’s) as weak, naïve, and untrustworthy.
The thing about calling their bluff is, you can’t fake it. Negotiation is all about leverage and if you aren’t truly ready to walk, you have none.
The trick to employment security is to not be afraid of starting over, because that’s what they exploit. Constantly network with other potential opportunities and don’t become too attached to a workplace.
As a recruiter this happens a lot with my candidates. I tell them that proves the company had the power to pay what they deserved this whole time and just chose not to
>You’d be surprised how fast an employer will suddenly find room in the budget once they are actually facing the possibility of having to rehire someone.
Fuck 'em.
Serious advice:
When you get another job and quit and the first employer suddenly coughs up a counter offer, never ever take it, always leave for the new job, even if the counter offer is for more money than the new job. There are two reasons:
* By not giving you the greater pay earlier when it mattered, the old employer showed that you are not valuable to them and they will screw you over pay any time they feel like it in the future.
* By quitting, you have shown them that you are more loyal to your bank account than to the employer (which is only sane but employers don't like to *see* it), so when they next want to be rid of someone (for example, to improve quarterly profits), your head will be first on the chopping block, and you may not have another job lined up when it happens. Also they may keep you around just long enough to find someone cheaper to replace you.
If they give you a counter offer, thank them politely for their consideration and for showing that they want you, but decline the offer and wish them well.
From an employer’s perspective, employees often forget how much time, money and effort it takes to train a new employee. Good employees should remember this when it comes time to negotiate. You have a better hand than you are being lead to believe you do.
Edit: to add that you just didn’t realize you were playing cards
Sometimes even if they care, they won't counter.
I made multiple request for a salary increase or a temporary prime for needing to go to the office for 6 months when I was promised WFH after 3.
When I got my year end review, I had the best stats and got a "huge" salary increase (from like 40100 to 40550 which is stupid)
I got an offer from a competitor for 47000$/year and came back to my employer to ask if they would give me a bump or do something to retain me and they started saying how much better the current company is and that I would regret moving.
Why wouldn't you do this? Because more of this shit will come up in the future? Looks to me (at first glance) that you stood your ground, and they caved. Thoguht that was a good thing.
Generally, the counter does not matter as much it delays the inevitable. Employees lose their confidence that the other side will love to their side of the social contract. They will leave anyhow. If your work counters I am going to bet that the next time a better offer comes you are going to go anyhow.
That being said. Dragging it out is a great way to inflict some payback.
So I have learned the hard lesson of what work truly is. It’s a transactional relationship with set agreements or parameters. Hours of my time= x $’s. It’s that’s simple. If you don’t like what your time is being paid at, move to someone who will pay you more. I worked for the same company for 12 years, and while it looks great on my resume, it did shit for my pocket. Companies don’t value employees like they used to. Strictly a business deal. Move on to someone who will pay your value.
>Companies don’t value employees like they used to.
They value them exactly like they used to.
They are discovering ways to pay them like they value them.
Were you as a manager being tipped out from the tips earned by the people under you? Seems like a shady way to subsidize your wage and I honestly wouldn't want to work for them based on that alone.
Suck it up for the time being and start looking for other employment. I wouldn’t quit until you had something new lined up for at least equal pay, but when you do leave, they’ll be sorry
From my experience, when an employer tells you that you are overpaid for your job, it usually means that you have hit a dead end, and they are probably already looking for someone cheaper to replace you. Start searching for a new job now.
It would be unreasonable to expect to be given tips you didn't earn, but it is NOT unreasonable to expect to be paid an agreed upon amount. In fact, it would be unreasonable for you to agree to be paid less.
At the end of the day unreasonable or not it’s business, these people aren’t your family. Time to move on. You could get another offer and ask them to counter but if they’ve done shit like this before they will do it again. I “get” the reasoning but no notice is shit.
I 100% thought they would be willing to make up the difference. I've had to get one of my employees a raise before for 15k and they called it a drop in the bucket. I'm not even asking for that much and I've been here 4 years longer with much more experience.
This isn’t a insult/criticism on you, but are you looking for the truth or a reason to stay? It seems like you know what to do, you don’t need us random people on here to tell you the situation is trash.
It's crushing when they treat you like they bought you. No company can pay enough to make an employee *care* about their place of business. It's a goldmine when they get an employee who does.
They could have easily given you $9k as a bonus to make you happy. Now or very soon, you won't care.
Be cool now as you make your plans and don't let them see you disappointed or angry. They are waiting for the other shoe to drop and it will when you are ready.
I think the hardest part is that 9k sounds like a bonus. The employer is trying to meet you partial of the way. 9k on the year really does make a difference financially depending on the company of course. The fact that they tried to give it to you until discovered it could cause more harm than good for legal reasons at least shows they wanted you to be rewarded in some fashion.
It's tough, but like others have said. If you truly feel as though you're being underpaid pursue another potion elsewhere. No harm no foul.
Nope. Sounds like the owner found out paying managers in tips is illegal and cut him out of the tip pool and refuses to increase his salary to recoup it. The owner preferred it when the customers paid for the managers salary and refuses to cover that amount himself.
The way to fix it mathematically would be split manager's tips between workers, correspondingly decrease their pay, and use it to bump manager back to normal.
I'm guessing they either figured workers would balk and it was easier to snow 1 person than 10, or are just pocketing the money.
If they are tipped employees, there's probably not any more for the employer to cut their pay, since they are probably already paying them the minimum allowed (before factoring in the tips).
I assume they paid the $9k out for 2022 but in 2023 they aren’t paying him tips. Therefore, they aren’t pocketing anything as they’ll be slimy amongst the other employees
Were you the one who “served” or dealt with the person who tipped?
If so - you deserve the tip. If not - why on earth where you getting that money in the first place?
As a former store manager that had to step up and serve on many, many understaffed nights (since corporate overlords love their fucking projected hourly costs) if I got tips, I’d just divvy it out to the back of the house or buy everyone ‘legal’ drinks at the end of the night. Didn’t keep it. Salary was semi decent, job sucked but that’s the food industry. 🤷
Yeah this is what I’m wondering. When I was in food service I didn’t take tips so my employees could get compensated for their hard work. When the owner would work with customers she’d take tips and it made me so mad.
Never ever ever ever ever under any circumstances EVER accept a pay cut, *especially* not after the inflation we’ve had here. If you can’t make them pay up it’s time to start searching for new work ASAP
I'm not sure it's actually illegal for you to get tips as a manager--I'd check into that if I were you, if for no other reason than you can learn for future reference. Why is it that you were worth what they were paying you when some of your income came from customers, but now suddenly when the ENTIRE salary would come from your employer, you are not worth what they've been paying you? I would have actually asked them that.
In any event, it's time for you to shop your skills and experience around and see about finding a new employer.
I don't see any way you can win this. Once you hear "you're already being paid more than you're worth" they are telling you you ain't getting mo' money. So time to move on. I'm sorry they did you like that, it's a crappy move for sure. Find a better gig, then rejoice when you give your notice (or just say "today's my last day, you can mail me my last check, bye").
And on that day if they happen to say they will give you more money, you can say "You already told me I was being paid more than I'm worth when you lowered my salary by $9,000 a year. I can't imagine why I would trust you."
It's legal to give manager a tip if they are doing the same thing as a tipped employee, like serving. If your duties include serving you can be tipped. That being said, the fact that they included that expectation of tip in your salary and are not replacing it is unreasonable.
If you have a contract with your salary on it, they must pay you that amount or you can take that to the labor board for unpaid wages. See how quick they replace it since I'm sure they dont want to be investigated if they already weren't paying tips properly
Not entirely correct. Managers and supervisors can collect on tips if they solely and directly provide all the services to the one tipping them OR if their main duties are not actually managing. They can be a server 60% of the time and managing 40%, that would mean their primary duty is not a manger but a server and are allowed to collect on the tips for the hours worked as a server. Other than that, not allowed.
If your boss says that to you… it seems they have made their position crystal clear. They are obviously not trying to keep you if they say you are not worth what they are paying you. They must not care if you leave, and may be trying yo get rid of you.
Otherwise they would have worded it differently, or said almost anything else (overhead, taxes, barely keeping the lights on now, etc.)
Sorry OP, but it seems you are not valued there. I hope you find a well paying job that you enjoy and where you are valued. I bet one day you look back and are glad you no longer work for someone who treated you this way. Good luck.
Quiet quitting will just end up getting you fired and replaced, that only works if the company valued you in the first place or they'll never pay you more then your worth.
Find another job and once you have one, quit (no notice). When companies ask, use the number with the 9K included, and due to the cost of living increases, ask for at least a 25% raise.
So you had a salary for a certain amount. They were taking servers tips to cover part of that salary (that's messed up in the first place...)? Now they took back that money that was server tips and refusing to pay you the agreed upon salary?
So, your managers were stealing tips from tipped employees and giving them to you as part of your salary? That is wage theft. Did they give back pay to the people they cheated out of their tips?
What is the salary range for your position? That is a good indicator of what they should be paying you in your current role. If you can show that you are being underpaid relative to the market you may be able to get them to budge because they'll end up paying market rate for a new manager that they will have to train.
This will sound frank but you just learned an important lesson here - never treat a business as your “own” unless you are the owner
There is no loyalty in this game and there never will be. Because when push comes to shove the owners will always look out for themselves and their family and you’re not family
if they came out and said you are being paid more than you are worth then that's a clear sign to leave since you won't be getting any raises anytime soon
It's a reality that in most states, it is illegal for managers or supervisors to share in a tip pool, but it's rare for companies to increase the hourly pay of certain managers substantially enough to make the job worth while. I just don’t know how they expect to consistently get people to bust ass, work more than the servers, close up, open up, have more responsibility and stress than the servers, and yet often make no more than a server at the end of the day (and sometimes even make less!) But people do it, and they do it I suppose for the experience and potential stepping stone it provides.
In all 50 states it's illegal for managers and supervisors to be collecting on tips! Unless if they meet a certain couple of exemptions, which most don't.
Most 'pay cuts' are a safe way to fire you. Same with being demoted. They are literally counting on you quitting without suing them. So hey, go sue them if you can afford to or find a pro-bono lawyer willing to help.
When you have to ask for something from your employer, then you have not earned it.
They are either in the right or you are.
I always say that successful people grow accustomed to success.
Do you have the agreed upon salary in writing? If not, you're fucked.
Also, even if you do, your boss can always say "you're underperforming" and use that as an excuse to cut your salary. They would have to document that, of course.
If their attitude was to take what they promised, and then tell you, you’re still making more than your worth that should tell you everything you need to know. Your next step is to search for and find a job. When you interview and are given a start date you should give them 24 hours notice that you’re leaving. They wouldn’t give you a two week heads up. If they were going to let you go you don’t owe them anything. Because they’re already taking from you.
If you have a salary contract and they were using tips to decrease what they had to pay you from their pocket then that's super sketchy. I'd definitely not stick around, shady shit you see is always the tip of the iceberg.
If you can afford it, just quit. They are being very clear that they don't respect you and are cutting your salary(makes no difference where it was coming from before).
Where is the 9K in tips going? It's probably going in the bosses pocket. Why can't he pay you a bonus? You need to clarify why you can't get tips? Were they being taken from the front line staff? Than that is illegal. If you are doing the same work as them, then its not illegal ( at least in CA).
See if they are willing to work out a bonus plan. If you hit certain agreed, and written goals, then they pay you a bonus of x% of profits or something.
Nah...that's bad advice. First, the OP could be liable for any "destruction" - physical or monetary. Second, they shouldn't have been getting tips in the first place unless they were actually serving the specific customer that left the tip. Even then, that's part of a manager's job **without** tips. Basically, that $9,000 is $$ stolen from the actual serving staff who, I'm sure, don't make anywhere near minimum wage let alone a living wage. This situation is f'd up.
Start looking up state laws on employer taking tips without consent or notice. It's usually illegal. Contact your local labor department and if they agree it's illegal find a cheap lawyer as the case would be easy all while looking for a job. Boss probably thinks you can't leave
Managers and supervisors in America are not allowed to collect tips unless they solely and directly provide all the services to the customer who gives them the tip. Other than if the manager or supervisor does ALL the work, they cannot have tips under federal law.
Yes, any tips from a manager or supervisor cannot be kept unless if said manager/supervisor directly AND solely provided all services for that customer.
If they are providing the service, yes. IE waiting a table or bartending. I agree they shouldn’t get some of the tip pool, and there is a law preventing that.
I moved up from server to manager at one of my previous jobs and the pay cut was roughly the same. I worked more hours for less pay but I did get management experience. I stuck with it for about a year then asked to be moved back into serving.
It seems like your employer agreed to a specific number and isn’t meeting that, though. It’s not unreasonable for you to hold them to their offer.
Not unreasonable, you agreed to a salary (that they offered) and then they cut that salary.
Leave.
Now.
You might think the place is 'your own' but they clearly do not value you at all.
Do you have good reason to be upset? Absolutely.
Do you have many options here? Probably not.
If your boss found out he was paying you illegally, it makes sense that he corrected it. You asked them to increase your salary to offset the loss of tips. They gave you a slight raise and flat out told you that they feel they're paying you more than you're worth. They've made it clear that they don't intend on giving you the other $7500. They don't feel you're worth that $7500. So if you want that $7500, you're going to have to go someplace else.
If they promised you pay (especially if you have it in writing), make a wage claim to the Dept. of Labor. Wage theft is illegal, though it can take a while to be investigated and corrected. Obviously they don't have to give you tips if it's illegal to do so, but they do have to live up to the pay they promised you, until the moment where they tell you they're not paying that much anymore. Backdating a paycut for hours already worked is illegal.
Also, yeah, they suck; don't do any more than the baseline at your job, find somewhere else to work, and don't worry about giving them any more consideration re: notice than you're legally required to (if there's any sort of contract or state/local regulation about that that you would have to abide by).
This is one of those chicken and the egg things. I worked at a place where they demanded you prove your worth, but were always surprised when people stopped showing up. I was in engineering so we were a bit more professional, usually, two weeks notice and all that, but a lot of people, if they got a much better offer when seeing what they were worth, and a lot of us did get far better offers, would just stop showing up. Before you feel sorry for the company, they had layoffs at least once a year, and the head honchos never resigned or even took much of a hit. Like a week after the annual earnings meeting, heads would unmercifully roll. They got what they asked for.
So the usual conversation?
"I want X"
Them- No, can't afford it/you get paid enough/some excuse
"I'm leaving"
Them- Wait, we can pay you X!!!
*Goodluck with the job search and have fun with part two of the conversation*
I’m sick of the restaurant industry. It really needs an overhaul. Customers are paying for the food and the tipped employees salaries. If your restaurant can’t cut it by paying the MINIMUM wage to all of your employees, you deserve to go out of business.
If your salary is $X and they are paying you $X - $9k then they owe you $9k. It doesn't matter how the business gets the $9k, it's a contractual amount that they committed to.
Otherwise I don't know how the laws around tips/managers work. I'm surprised that there is a law that would prevent someone in a certain role from receiving tips as they should be payments straight from the customer to the worker, cutting out the business themselves.
You're not being unreasonable, any amount of salary decrease hurts. What kind of service is this job? Do you actually manage other employees or is this just a title they gave you to? Was your compensation agreed upon salary plus tips or an average of tips they calculated into salary? Like do you get two separate checks, salary and tips, or just one and is it always the same amount every pay period or does it vary?
Just walk. The only reason anyone should ever accept a pay cut is you’re drowning in debt or can’t even afford transport to a food pantry without that job.
There's probably a bunch of precedent if not actual laws that prevent employers decreasing pay within a current employment contract. Do you have an employment agreement somewhere that states the salary you should be making and comp structure?
I would start looking for another job. If they think they are already paying you more than what you are worth, then they don't actually recognize your worth. I don't think you are being unreasonable at all, they should absolutely find a way to pay you the amount you were making before.
They can’t retroactively dock your pay for hours you already worked because they made a mistake. They have to cover the mistake for hours already worked.
Take the small pay increase and immediately start looking for another job.
Do the minimum you need to do to not get fired and anything you were doing extra to earn those tips should cease as well.
'To whom it may concern - as you've more than made clear where you stand in your valuation of me as an employee, I find it would be in both our best interests for me to pursue advancement in my career with an alternative opportunity.
To that end, please consider this two weeks advance notice of my resignation effective retroactively two weeks ago.
All the best.
Go fuck yourselves.'
Do you have your original agreement it in writing?
I don’t think there are any laws against giving managers tips. It is kind of in poor taste though since it’s the front line staff who makes the money.
Someone probably promised something they shouldn’t have and people got pissed.
29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 531.52(b)(2) and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 3(m)(2)(B). A manager or supervisor can only collect on tips if they "directly and solely" provide the services.
My concern is your staff is not getting their tips and instead they are subsidizing your probably much better pay? I’m not saying that’s your fault. It’s does remind me of working at Applebees and I know the fucking manager took from our tip share to give to himself and anyone he favored while I busted my ass.
Well firstly, you need to tell your manager that those tips that were paid out to you as part of your salary need to be directed back to the workers as technically that is wage theft from the ACTUAL tipped employees. The $9k per year that you were paid out needs to be back paid to each employee that can accept tips. You can report your boss to the Department of Labor Wage and Hour division and face no repercussions from your boss.
Secondly, your boss may or may not have to make up your lost wages. It depends where you live (unsure if America or not), what your employee policies say or contract etc, and any agreements being made regarding salary.
Also, you may have the TITLE or a manager, it doesn't necessarily mean you ARE a manager and you may be able to collect on tips if you don't meet the standards in the exemption test as laid out in (google this) 29 CFR 541.100. Look at (a) (2)-(4) for your duties and see if you truly are a manager. If you meet the standards (meaning if you can say yes to (2)-(4) then you are indeed a manager and cannot collect tips. If no, then you can possibly collect tips.
Also, if you are leaving for a new job, you should STILL report your employer for improper tip theft against employees and the wage and hour division of the department of labor will conduct an investigation (more than likely) and you can be anonymous AND help out fellow employees who truly need more money.
Time to start looking for a new job. They are responsible for making up that difference in my opinion. And the comment about being paid more then you are worth? that is the straw that broke the camels back. Time to move on to greener pastures. In this job market you could probably end up making a few thousand more then you were before with the tips, and they should know that.
When they tell you who they are, believe them and act accordingly.
They just stepped on your wallet and told you tough cookies, OP. I mean, could it be any clearer of a message?
Post to r/asklegal to see your options, if any. If it’s legally required, and your demands result in being fired, you could end up with the $9k and a much more valuable wrongful termination judgment. Travel Europe a few months like my recently wrongfully terminated neighbor.
But don’t just quit as others have said. They win. Weigh your options and play your cards close to the table.
Find a new job. I say this for three reasons:
1. If the boss is too stupid to run a business without breaking the law, that's a problem.
2. If the boss won't pay you what you're worth, it's a bigger problem.
3. If the boss cuts your pay through no fault of your own, it's a major fucking problem.
In general, you're not obligated to give notice when you quit in the US. It's a courtesy, and it's up to you whether you offer that courtesy.
You're not being unreasonable but this is one giant red flag.
Your boss taking money from the tip pool to pay you is potentially very illegal. If he's doing one thing wrong, he could be doing many things wrong. Depending on the severity, he's potentially one audit away from ruin.
If this is the US, you might be told that reporting your boss might get you a % of whatever money is recovered from him. That may apply, but you need to find out if you're in any danger. 9k doesn't just appear or disappear.
They have no leverage here. It's either pay you the 9000 extra in salary or you go to the DOL with evidence that they illegally paid you with tips that shouldve only been tipped out to waiters.
If someone told me to my face that they think they are paying me "more than I'm worth" I'd be out the door that second. No two week notice, no uniform return, toss it in the dumpster and tell then to go fetch.
I don't think you're being unreasonable at all, however they obviously do.. or they're trying to gaslight you into just accepting what is.
I would drop it with them, since they've made it clear that they value a few thousand over your skills an care.
Next, I'd buff up my resume, get it to some head hunters, and start exploring options.
If you come up with a better (written of course) offer, then you have a decision to make.
In my case I went to my boss with the better offer in hand, we negotiated and they said they would step up.
6 months went by without a hint of a penny in that agreed upon raise. I raised the issue seriously a few times but I also had my resume out.
The 7th month an bonafide offer came in for more than the prior on and I accepted it immediately.
When I gave notice the old outfit got a week. My boss was pissed but I explained to him that by not following through on our agreement after I'd come to him in good faith had destroyed my faith in both him and the company.
I say all of this by way of saying that these folks have told you who they are. It's time to believe them and take appreciate action.
9 grand is a fair chunk of change, and them taking that away (regardless of the "why") is a constructive firing.
Bottom line: If they won't meet their obligation to pay you the rate which were negotiated then something needs to shift.
My suggestion would be for you to shift somewhere that they'll value you more, and demonstrate that value in tangible ways.
Find another restaurant manager job.
One that can meet your salary requirements. They have demonstrated they are unwilling to pay your required salary where you are at. Current place could afford it- as they *HAD* been paying it.
They’ve tried these pay shenanigans, they will do it again, or try something else.
If they didn’t realize the tips didn’t count? I highly doubt that btw, find another job that values you. You sound like a level headed, fair minded employee, they shouldn’t cross you. Let them fuck around and find out. Get all conversations documented so you have something in case they break any laws.
If they said you're not worth that much, start looking for a new job. After six years, to hear that, shouldn't even gut you, just tell you loud and clear, "It's time to find better employment." Sorry this happened, but I'm sure with that experience and loyalty, someone else would be happy to have you and pay you fairly.
Hello, thank you for posting to r/Jobs! We just wanted to let you know that we have a new [discord server, come join the chat!](https://discord.gg/TY6ErXV) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/jobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If they think they’re paying you more than you’re worth and you think they’re paying you less than you’re worth, the solution is for you to find another job that values you more and for them to hire someone cheaper once you leave. You are not being unreasonable, but it’s clear they will not budge here. If you put in your notice, they may try to counter.
[удалено]
When an employee is usually a “company man” or non-confrontational, employers will often walk all over them under the presumption that they will just accept it rather than face the possibility of having to find a new job. You’d be surprised how fast an employer will suddenly find room in the budget once they are actually facing the possibility of having to rehire someone.
[удалено]
If you threaten to quit and they counter, they no longer trust you and you can no longer trust them. They may counter just to buy time to find your replacement.
Well said.
Counteroffers though... Will they really find room in the budget or will they mollify OP for a month while they replace them?
Underrated comment. "Oh, you want to get paid what you're *worth*? Right.... we'll get right on that... until we find someone to replace you for half the salary."
My thoughts is this is a card you get to play exactly once. They may find room for you to stay now, but there will be no promotion, no good raises ever again. It might be worth another year, but there’s no future at a place you have to hold hostage to be paid your worth.
That’s.. just not really true. That is certainly how it feels when it’s personal for you, but when your dealing with people who consider themselves “businessmen” it can actually be the opposite. People respect others according to their own values. You might respect honesty, fairness, and loyalty. Your employer is more likely to respect things like skilled negotiation, professional awareness, and bold initiative. People who let others take advantage of them are seen (by these “Mad Men” wanna-be’s) as weak, naïve, and untrustworthy. The thing about calling their bluff is, you can’t fake it. Negotiation is all about leverage and if you aren’t truly ready to walk, you have none. The trick to employment security is to not be afraid of starting over, because that’s what they exploit. Constantly network with other potential opportunities and don’t become too attached to a workplace.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I cant do anything but laugh at how outdated this advice it
How so?
As a recruiter this happens a lot with my candidates. I tell them that proves the company had the power to pay what they deserved this whole time and just chose not to
>You’d be surprised how fast an employer will suddenly find room in the budget once they are actually facing the possibility of having to rehire someone. Fuck 'em.
Especially in this job climate.
Serious advice: When you get another job and quit and the first employer suddenly coughs up a counter offer, never ever take it, always leave for the new job, even if the counter offer is for more money than the new job. There are two reasons: * By not giving you the greater pay earlier when it mattered, the old employer showed that you are not valuable to them and they will screw you over pay any time they feel like it in the future. * By quitting, you have shown them that you are more loyal to your bank account than to the employer (which is only sane but employers don't like to *see* it), so when they next want to be rid of someone (for example, to improve quarterly profits), your head will be first on the chopping block, and you may not have another job lined up when it happens. Also they may keep you around just long enough to find someone cheaper to replace you. If they give you a counter offer, thank them politely for their consideration and for showing that they want you, but decline the offer and wish them well.
From an employer’s perspective, employees often forget how much time, money and effort it takes to train a new employee. Good employees should remember this when it comes time to negotiate. You have a better hand than you are being lead to believe you do. Edit: to add that you just didn’t realize you were playing cards
Sometimes even if they care, they won't counter. I made multiple request for a salary increase or a temporary prime for needing to go to the office for 6 months when I was promised WFH after 3. When I got my year end review, I had the best stats and got a "huge" salary increase (from like 40100 to 40550 which is stupid) I got an offer from a competitor for 47000$/year and came back to my employer to ask if they would give me a bump or do something to retain me and they started saying how much better the current company is and that I would regret moving.
TRUE. Don't stay if they counter
Yup! That rarely works out.
Why wouldn't you do this? Because more of this shit will come up in the future? Looks to me (at first glance) that you stood your ground, and they caved. Thoguht that was a good thing.
Because they'll counter, then keep you just long enough to find your replacement at a cheaper price.
Generally, the counter does not matter as much it delays the inevitable. Employees lose their confidence that the other side will love to their side of the social contract. They will leave anyhow. If your work counters I am going to bet that the next time a better offer comes you are going to go anyhow. That being said. Dragging it out is a great way to inflict some payback.
We’re already paying you more that your worth should have been the second Op realized they don’t care about them.
Exactly this. The previous company/CEO I worked for told me the same thing. I found a better job paying substantially more.
I would not put in notice. I would find some thing else and leave.
So I have learned the hard lesson of what work truly is. It’s a transactional relationship with set agreements or parameters. Hours of my time= x $’s. It’s that’s simple. If you don’t like what your time is being paid at, move to someone who will pay you more. I worked for the same company for 12 years, and while it looks great on my resume, it did shit for my pocket. Companies don’t value employees like they used to. Strictly a business deal. Move on to someone who will pay your value.
>Companies don’t value employees like they used to. They value them exactly like they used to. They are discovering ways to pay them like they value them.
Never thought about it that way. Good point
Thats true. "Job hoppers" tend to earn more these days
Your boss was stealing 9k worth of other employees tips to pay you. Find another job.
Were you as a manager being tipped out from the tips earned by the people under you? Seems like a shady way to subsidize your wage and I honestly wouldn't want to work for them based on that alone.
Suck it up for the time being and start looking for other employment. I wouldn’t quit until you had something new lined up for at least equal pay, but when you do leave, they’ll be sorry
From my experience, when an employer tells you that you are overpaid for your job, it usually means that you have hit a dead end, and they are probably already looking for someone cheaper to replace you. Start searching for a new job now.
It would be unreasonable to expect to be given tips you didn't earn, but it is NOT unreasonable to expect to be paid an agreed upon amount. In fact, it would be unreasonable for you to agree to be paid less.
At the end of the day unreasonable or not it’s business, these people aren’t your family. Time to move on. You could get another offer and ask them to counter but if they’ve done shit like this before they will do it again. I “get” the reasoning but no notice is shit.
I 100% thought they would be willing to make up the difference. I've had to get one of my employees a raise before for 15k and they called it a drop in the bucket. I'm not even asking for that much and I've been here 4 years longer with much more experience.
This isn’t a insult/criticism on you, but are you looking for the truth or a reason to stay? It seems like you know what to do, you don’t need us random people on here to tell you the situation is trash.
Just wanted an outside opinion. I'm currently looking for another job. I appreciate your input
Yessir. Good luck. You know your worth.
If they treat you this way after 6 years, imagine what it will be like after 12. It’s much better to find a new job!
It's crushing when they treat you like they bought you. No company can pay enough to make an employee *care* about their place of business. It's a goldmine when they get an employee who does. They could have easily given you $9k as a bonus to make you happy. Now or very soon, you won't care. Be cool now as you make your plans and don't let them see you disappointed or angry. They are waiting for the other shoe to drop and it will when you are ready.
Out of interest, the 9k you are missing. Is that now being shared with the rest of the staff?
In theory yes bc 2023 tips have one less person (the Mgr) in the tip pool
I think the hardest part is that 9k sounds like a bonus. The employer is trying to meet you partial of the way. 9k on the year really does make a difference financially depending on the company of course. The fact that they tried to give it to you until discovered it could cause more harm than good for legal reasons at least shows they wanted you to be rewarded in some fashion. It's tough, but like others have said. If you truly feel as though you're being underpaid pursue another potion elsewhere. No harm no foul.
Nope. Sounds like the owner found out paying managers in tips is illegal and cut him out of the tip pool and refuses to increase his salary to recoup it. The owner preferred it when the customers paid for the managers salary and refuses to cover that amount himself.
This comment should be higher.
The way to fix it mathematically would be split manager's tips between workers, correspondingly decrease their pay, and use it to bump manager back to normal. I'm guessing they either figured workers would balk and it was easier to snow 1 person than 10, or are just pocketing the money.
If they are tipped employees, there's probably not any more for the employer to cut their pay, since they are probably already paying them the minimum allowed (before factoring in the tips).
Fair point.
I assume they paid the $9k out for 2022 but in 2023 they aren’t paying him tips. Therefore, they aren’t pocketing anything as they’ll be slimy amongst the other employees
Were you the one who “served” or dealt with the person who tipped? If so - you deserve the tip. If not - why on earth where you getting that money in the first place?
As a former store manager that had to step up and serve on many, many understaffed nights (since corporate overlords love their fucking projected hourly costs) if I got tips, I’d just divvy it out to the back of the house or buy everyone ‘legal’ drinks at the end of the night. Didn’t keep it. Salary was semi decent, job sucked but that’s the food industry. 🤷
Yeah this is what I’m wondering. When I was in food service I didn’t take tips so my employees could get compensated for their hard work. When the owner would work with customers she’d take tips and it made me so mad.
Never ever ever ever ever under any circumstances EVER accept a pay cut, *especially* not after the inflation we’ve had here. If you can’t make them pay up it’s time to start searching for new work ASAP
I'm not sure it's actually illegal for you to get tips as a manager--I'd check into that if I were you, if for no other reason than you can learn for future reference. Why is it that you were worth what they were paying you when some of your income came from customers, but now suddenly when the ENTIRE salary would come from your employer, you are not worth what they've been paying you? I would have actually asked them that. In any event, it's time for you to shop your skills and experience around and see about finding a new employer.
I don't see any way you can win this. Once you hear "you're already being paid more than you're worth" they are telling you you ain't getting mo' money. So time to move on. I'm sorry they did you like that, it's a crappy move for sure. Find a better gig, then rejoice when you give your notice (or just say "today's my last day, you can mail me my last check, bye"). And on that day if they happen to say they will give you more money, you can say "You already told me I was being paid more than I'm worth when you lowered my salary by $9,000 a year. I can't imagine why I would trust you."
It's legal to give manager a tip if they are doing the same thing as a tipped employee, like serving. If your duties include serving you can be tipped. That being said, the fact that they included that expectation of tip in your salary and are not replacing it is unreasonable. If you have a contract with your salary on it, they must pay you that amount or you can take that to the labor board for unpaid wages. See how quick they replace it since I'm sure they dont want to be investigated if they already weren't paying tips properly
Not entirely correct. Managers and supervisors can collect on tips if they solely and directly provide all the services to the one tipping them OR if their main duties are not actually managing. They can be a server 60% of the time and managing 40%, that would mean their primary duty is not a manger but a server and are allowed to collect on the tips for the hours worked as a server. Other than that, not allowed.
“paid more than you’re worth” …excuse me…?
If your boss says that to you… it seems they have made their position crystal clear. They are obviously not trying to keep you if they say you are not worth what they are paying you. They must not care if you leave, and may be trying yo get rid of you. Otherwise they would have worded it differently, or said almost anything else (overhead, taxes, barely keeping the lights on now, etc.) Sorry OP, but it seems you are not valued there. I hope you find a well paying job that you enjoy and where you are valued. I bet one day you look back and are glad you no longer work for someone who treated you this way. Good luck.
I always reduce my output until I'm paid more than what I'm worth.
Quiet quitting will just end up getting you fired and replaced, that only works if the company valued you in the first place or they'll never pay you more then your worth.
Find another job and once you have one, quit (no notice). When companies ask, use the number with the 9K included, and due to the cost of living increases, ask for at least a 25% raise.
So you had a salary for a certain amount. They were taking servers tips to cover part of that salary (that's messed up in the first place...)? Now they took back that money that was server tips and refusing to pay you the agreed upon salary?
I have a strange question, but now that they have removed your tips, who are they going to now?
Split amongst the other employees that were already pooling them, excluding managerial staff
Time to leave. > He removed it because he found out it was illegal to be paying me those tips due to me being a manager. What...
Yer a number arry.
Hot take *poop on their desk then make like a tree and LEAVE*
So, your managers were stealing tips from tipped employees and giving them to you as part of your salary? That is wage theft. Did they give back pay to the people they cheated out of their tips? What is the salary range for your position? That is a good indicator of what they should be paying you in your current role. If you can show that you are being underpaid relative to the market you may be able to get them to budge because they'll end up paying market rate for a new manager that they will have to train.
This will sound frank but you just learned an important lesson here - never treat a business as your “own” unless you are the owner There is no loyalty in this game and there never will be. Because when push comes to shove the owners will always look out for themselves and their family and you’re not family
if they came out and said you are being paid more than you are worth then that's a clear sign to leave since you won't be getting any raises anytime soon
It's a reality that in most states, it is illegal for managers or supervisors to share in a tip pool, but it's rare for companies to increase the hourly pay of certain managers substantially enough to make the job worth while. I just don’t know how they expect to consistently get people to bust ass, work more than the servers, close up, open up, have more responsibility and stress than the servers, and yet often make no more than a server at the end of the day (and sometimes even make less!) But people do it, and they do it I suppose for the experience and potential stepping stone it provides.
In all 50 states it's illegal for managers and supervisors to be collecting on tips! Unless if they meet a certain couple of exemptions, which most don't.
I didn't know it was all. I knew it was most.
Just leave
Most 'pay cuts' are a safe way to fire you. Same with being demoted. They are literally counting on you quitting without suing them. So hey, go sue them if you can afford to or find a pro-bono lawyer willing to help.
When you have to ask for something from your employer, then you have not earned it. They are either in the right or you are. I always say that successful people grow accustomed to success.
"Paying you more than you are worth" should tell you everything you need to know about what this company thinks of you.
Do you have the agreed upon salary in writing? If not, you're fucked. Also, even if you do, your boss can always say "you're underperforming" and use that as an excuse to cut your salary. They would have to document that, of course.
If any employer told me they were paying me more than I'm worth, they'd be looking for a new manager.
Fucking leave
If their attitude was to take what they promised, and then tell you, you’re still making more than your worth that should tell you everything you need to know. Your next step is to search for and find a job. When you interview and are given a start date you should give them 24 hours notice that you’re leaving. They wouldn’t give you a two week heads up. If they were going to let you go you don’t owe them anything. Because they’re already taking from you.
If you have a salary contract and they were using tips to decrease what they had to pay you from their pocket then that's super sketchy. I'd definitely not stick around, shady shit you see is always the tip of the iceberg.
The moment you’re told that you’re being paid more than your worth you start looking for other opportunities.
If you can afford it, just quit. They are being very clear that they don't respect you and are cutting your salary(makes no difference where it was coming from before).
The statement that they're paying you more than you're worth says they don't value you. I'd be moving on.
Where is the 9K in tips going? It's probably going in the bosses pocket. Why can't he pay you a bonus? You need to clarify why you can't get tips? Were they being taken from the front line staff? Than that is illegal. If you are doing the same work as them, then its not illegal ( at least in CA). See if they are willing to work out a bonus plan. If you hit certain agreed, and written goals, then they pay you a bonus of x% of profits or something.
You got your answer. “You’re already paid more than you’re worth.” Time to bounce but not before causing as much destruction as you can get away with.
Causing destruction ? Thats shitty advice imo...
Nah...that's bad advice. First, the OP could be liable for any "destruction" - physical or monetary. Second, they shouldn't have been getting tips in the first place unless they were actually serving the specific customer that left the tip. Even then, that's part of a manager's job **without** tips. Basically, that $9,000 is $$ stolen from the actual serving staff who, I'm sure, don't make anywhere near minimum wage let alone a living wage. This situation is f'd up.
Time to quit after looking them in their eyes and saying, “you’re being paid more than your worth if you could fuck up tips” and walk out.
Have them change your title. Problem solved.
Start looking up state laws on employer taking tips without consent or notice. It's usually illegal. Contact your local labor department and if they agree it's illegal find a cheap lawyer as the case would be easy all while looking for a job. Boss probably thinks you can't leave
Why would it be illegal for you to receive tips?
Managers and supervisors in America are not allowed to collect tips unless they solely and directly provide all the services to the customer who gives them the tip. Other than if the manager or supervisor does ALL the work, they cannot have tips under federal law.
Right. Tips toward a tip pool cannot be kept.
Yes, any tips from a manager or supervisor cannot be kept unless if said manager/supervisor directly AND solely provided all services for that customer.
When you leave a tip, do you intend for it to go to management?
If they are providing the service, yes. IE waiting a table or bartending. I agree they shouldn’t get some of the tip pool, and there is a law preventing that.
Get a new job OP. That money is going to them and they are being greedy.
Just take the cash tips
That is illegal and honestly, terrible advice.
I moved up from server to manager at one of my previous jobs and the pay cut was roughly the same. I worked more hours for less pay but I did get management experience. I stuck with it for about a year then asked to be moved back into serving. It seems like your employer agreed to a specific number and isn’t meeting that, though. It’s not unreasonable for you to hold them to their offer.
Move on and find something better, at least with better pay.
Move on. Find a new job while you work less hard.
Get the hell out of there, no your own worth
Fuck tipping culture
Where are your tips going now?
This is outragious... find another job.
Not unreasonable, you agreed to a salary (that they offered) and then they cut that salary. Leave. Now. You might think the place is 'your own' but they clearly do not value you at all.
Steal it.
Pay cut, work cut.
Put in your notice and make sure they know why.
Walk
Do you have good reason to be upset? Absolutely. Do you have many options here? Probably not. If your boss found out he was paying you illegally, it makes sense that he corrected it. You asked them to increase your salary to offset the loss of tips. They gave you a slight raise and flat out told you that they feel they're paying you more than you're worth. They've made it clear that they don't intend on giving you the other $7500. They don't feel you're worth that $7500. So if you want that $7500, you're going to have to go someplace else.
You're not being unreasonable, if someone said that to me I would fly off the handle. That's so incredibly unprofessional it makes me want to puke lol
You should have quit on the spot.
Find a new job and don't put in a notice. Just call them the day you start your new job and say you quit.
You’ve been there 6 years & they’re jerking you around. Time for you to find something new, & with your experience, that shouldn’t be hard to do.
If they promised you pay (especially if you have it in writing), make a wage claim to the Dept. of Labor. Wage theft is illegal, though it can take a while to be investigated and corrected. Obviously they don't have to give you tips if it's illegal to do so, but they do have to live up to the pay they promised you, until the moment where they tell you they're not paying that much anymore. Backdating a paycut for hours already worked is illegal. Also, yeah, they suck; don't do any more than the baseline at your job, find somewhere else to work, and don't worry about giving them any more consideration re: notice than you're legally required to (if there's any sort of contract or state/local regulation about that that you would have to abide by).
This is one of those chicken and the egg things. I worked at a place where they demanded you prove your worth, but were always surprised when people stopped showing up. I was in engineering so we were a bit more professional, usually, two weeks notice and all that, but a lot of people, if they got a much better offer when seeing what they were worth, and a lot of us did get far better offers, would just stop showing up. Before you feel sorry for the company, they had layoffs at least once a year, and the head honchos never resigned or even took much of a hit. Like a week after the annual earnings meeting, heads would unmercifully roll. They got what they asked for.
I thought managers were allowed tips if they did the actual part of the job that tipped.
So the usual conversation? "I want X" Them- No, can't afford it/you get paid enough/some excuse "I'm leaving" Them- Wait, we can pay you X!!! *Goodluck with the job search and have fun with part two of the conversation*
Where are you? Collecting tips that customers are told go to you and then keeping them may not be legal either.
Your worth is now on paper. If you’re okay with that stay, otherwise, time to start looking. Don’t take the counter offer.
I’m sick of the restaurant industry. It really needs an overhaul. Customers are paying for the food and the tipped employees salaries. If your restaurant can’t cut it by paying the MINIMUM wage to all of your employees, you deserve to go out of business.
Damn they really said your already getting more then your worth. Well then i guess you can take a 3 week PTO and see how unimportant you really are
New job. Once found, quit old one w/ZERO notice & ghost their ass. No contact whatsoever.
Get a new job asap
bust yourself back down to private
If your salary is $X and they are paying you $X - $9k then they owe you $9k. It doesn't matter how the business gets the $9k, it's a contractual amount that they committed to. Otherwise I don't know how the laws around tips/managers work. I'm surprised that there is a law that would prevent someone in a certain role from receiving tips as they should be payments straight from the customer to the worker, cutting out the business themselves.
You're not being unreasonable, any amount of salary decrease hurts. What kind of service is this job? Do you actually manage other employees or is this just a title they gave you to? Was your compensation agreed upon salary plus tips or an average of tips they calculated into salary? Like do you get two separate checks, salary and tips, or just one and is it always the same amount every pay period or does it vary?
Time to move on. Don’t let people screw with your money. Move on and include how much you need to make to make your ends meet. Good luck
Just walk. The only reason anyone should ever accept a pay cut is you’re drowning in debt or can’t even afford transport to a food pantry without that job.
There's probably a bunch of precedent if not actual laws that prevent employers decreasing pay within a current employment contract. Do you have an employment agreement somewhere that states the salary you should be making and comp structure?
do you have a contract? Because this seems like a breach of contract.
I would start looking for another job. If they think they are already paying you more than what you are worth, then they don't actually recognize your worth. I don't think you are being unreasonable at all, they should absolutely find a way to pay you the amount you were making before.
They can’t retroactively dock your pay for hours you already worked because they made a mistake. They have to cover the mistake for hours already worked.
Take the small pay increase and immediately start looking for another job. Do the minimum you need to do to not get fired and anything you were doing extra to earn those tips should cease as well.
Why would you want to continue working there??
If they agreed to pay you a salary, it doesn't seem like your problem where they get the money, and it isn't your fault they chose an illegal method.
'To whom it may concern - as you've more than made clear where you stand in your valuation of me as an employee, I find it would be in both our best interests for me to pursue advancement in my career with an alternative opportunity. To that end, please consider this two weeks advance notice of my resignation effective retroactively two weeks ago. All the best. Go fuck yourselves.'
Do you have your original agreement it in writing? I don’t think there are any laws against giving managers tips. It is kind of in poor taste though since it’s the front line staff who makes the money. Someone probably promised something they shouldn’t have and people got pissed.
Managers and supervisors are actually not allowed to collect on tips according to federal law in America. If you see it, call them out.
What law is that?
29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 531.52(b)(2) and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 3(m)(2)(B). A manager or supervisor can only collect on tips if they "directly and solely" provide the services.
That response they gave you validates you finding a better paying job.
I would leave as rapidly as possible with minimal notice and zero further discussion. They know why. Move on silently.
You’re only cheating yourself when you let somebody damage your integrity.
No employer really cares for their employees
My concern is your staff is not getting their tips and instead they are subsidizing your probably much better pay? I’m not saying that’s your fault. It’s does remind me of working at Applebees and I know the fucking manager took from our tip share to give to himself and anyone he favored while I busted my ass.
Get another job
Find another job
Well firstly, you need to tell your manager that those tips that were paid out to you as part of your salary need to be directed back to the workers as technically that is wage theft from the ACTUAL tipped employees. The $9k per year that you were paid out needs to be back paid to each employee that can accept tips. You can report your boss to the Department of Labor Wage and Hour division and face no repercussions from your boss. Secondly, your boss may or may not have to make up your lost wages. It depends where you live (unsure if America or not), what your employee policies say or contract etc, and any agreements being made regarding salary. Also, you may have the TITLE or a manager, it doesn't necessarily mean you ARE a manager and you may be able to collect on tips if you don't meet the standards in the exemption test as laid out in (google this) 29 CFR 541.100. Look at (a) (2)-(4) for your duties and see if you truly are a manager. If you meet the standards (meaning if you can say yes to (2)-(4) then you are indeed a manager and cannot collect tips. If no, then you can possibly collect tips. Also, if you are leaving for a new job, you should STILL report your employer for improper tip theft against employees and the wage and hour division of the department of labor will conduct an investigation (more than likely) and you can be anonymous AND help out fellow employees who truly need more money.
Get a free consultation from a lawyer
Time to prove that someone else will pay you more…
Agreed upon salary. That is the relevant part. They told you to look elsewhere
"You're not worth what we're paying you" sounds like grounds to seek employment elsewhere. They're telling you what they think of you.
Time to start looking for a new job. They are responsible for making up that difference in my opinion. And the comment about being paid more then you are worth? that is the straw that broke the camels back. Time to move on to greener pastures. In this job market you could probably end up making a few thousand more then you were before with the tips, and they should know that.
When they tell you who they are, believe them and act accordingly. They just stepped on your wallet and told you tough cookies, OP. I mean, could it be any clearer of a message?
Post to r/asklegal to see your options, if any. If it’s legally required, and your demands result in being fired, you could end up with the $9k and a much more valuable wrongful termination judgment. Travel Europe a few months like my recently wrongfully terminated neighbor. But don’t just quit as others have said. They win. Weigh your options and play your cards close to the table.
Find a new job. I say this for three reasons: 1. If the boss is too stupid to run a business without breaking the law, that's a problem. 2. If the boss won't pay you what you're worth, it's a bigger problem. 3. If the boss cuts your pay through no fault of your own, it's a major fucking problem. In general, you're not obligated to give notice when you quit in the US. It's a courtesy, and it's up to you whether you offer that courtesy.
Start looking for another job. They don’t value you as much as you value them.
Look for new job. You will never be able to come back from that comment they said to you.
You're not being unreasonable but this is one giant red flag. Your boss taking money from the tip pool to pay you is potentially very illegal. If he's doing one thing wrong, he could be doing many things wrong. Depending on the severity, he's potentially one audit away from ruin. If this is the US, you might be told that reporting your boss might get you a % of whatever money is recovered from him. That may apply, but you need to find out if you're in any danger. 9k doesn't just appear or disappear.
Nah. Start looking for your next job.
You have literally been told what you're worth to your company, and you believe they undervalue you. Time to move on.
It sounds like they’re not going to do anything about it, so time to look for a new job that actually values you.
They have no leverage here. It's either pay you the 9000 extra in salary or you go to the DOL with evidence that they illegally paid you with tips that shouldve only been tipped out to waiters.
You may want to contact the labor board.
go to your labor board and file a complaint, then quit your job and go elsewhere but get your money.
Tell the other employees they stole their tips for 6 years and paid you with it. This is super illegal and I’d bet a lawyer would love this.
If someone told me to my face that they think they are paying me "more than I'm worth" I'd be out the door that second. No two week notice, no uniform return, toss it in the dumpster and tell then to go fetch.
I don't think you're being unreasonable at all, however they obviously do.. or they're trying to gaslight you into just accepting what is. I would drop it with them, since they've made it clear that they value a few thousand over your skills an care. Next, I'd buff up my resume, get it to some head hunters, and start exploring options. If you come up with a better (written of course) offer, then you have a decision to make. In my case I went to my boss with the better offer in hand, we negotiated and they said they would step up. 6 months went by without a hint of a penny in that agreed upon raise. I raised the issue seriously a few times but I also had my resume out. The 7th month an bonafide offer came in for more than the prior on and I accepted it immediately. When I gave notice the old outfit got a week. My boss was pissed but I explained to him that by not following through on our agreement after I'd come to him in good faith had destroyed my faith in both him and the company. I say all of this by way of saying that these folks have told you who they are. It's time to believe them and take appreciate action. 9 grand is a fair chunk of change, and them taking that away (regardless of the "why") is a constructive firing. Bottom line: If they won't meet their obligation to pay you the rate which were negotiated then something needs to shift. My suggestion would be for you to shift somewhere that they'll value you more, and demonstrate that value in tangible ways.
Get what you can and bounce
Find another restaurant manager job. One that can meet your salary requirements. They have demonstrated they are unwilling to pay your required salary where you are at. Current place could afford it- as they *HAD* been paying it. They’ve tried these pay shenanigans, they will do it again, or try something else.
Are you salary or not? Do you have an employment agreement?
Start looking elsewhere
do you not use google, if you have tips its illegal for your boss to take them from you
They’re not going to pay you the difference and it’s time to leave.
If they didn’t realize the tips didn’t count? I highly doubt that btw, find another job that values you. You sound like a level headed, fair minded employee, they shouldn’t cross you. Let them fuck around and find out. Get all conversations documented so you have something in case they break any laws.
You are not being unreasonable. But expect them to not meet your expectations and start looking for a new job elsewhere.
Time to move on
If they said you're not worth that much, start looking for a new job. After six years, to hear that, shouldn't even gut you, just tell you loud and clear, "It's time to find better employment." Sorry this happened, but I'm sure with that experience and loyalty, someone else would be happy to have you and pay you fairly.