Restaurant adds 'minimum wage surcharge'

[doxydad]

A Minnesota restaurant has begun charging a minimum wage fee – $0.35 on the end of every bill. The move is in response to Minnesota's decision to increase minimum wage to $8 an hour for large employers and $6.50 and hour for small employers.

The reaction to the "minimum wage fee" – as gauged by the Oasis Café Facebook page – has been mixed. Some commenters say they value the restaurant's transparency and support that it's taking a stand. Others, like Susan Sanders Wansbrough wrote, “Won’t be visiting a restaurant that thinks it needs to make a political statement on the backs of poorly paid employees.”

In response to the backlash, the owners of the Oasis Cafe, Craig and Deb Beemer, posted a statement on Facebook saying, "Our decision to offset the recent increase in minimum wage was what we believed to be the most honest and transparent way to communicate a significant increase in our operating cost. Rather than raise menu prices, we decided to charge a flat fee per guest check."

The Beemers also said, "It was never our intent to make some grand political statement about the minimum wage debate."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/minnesota-restaurant-adds-minimum-wage-surcharge-155252174.html

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. Why don't they just raise their prices a tiny bit instead of making a BFD out of it???

[el_bryanto]

2. Maybe they aren't super good at math? so hit on this as the simplest solution?

I don't know; part of me thinks that a growing awareness of how the minimum wage hikes hit small businesses is probably a good thing; but at the same time I doubt they are going to lower prices if the government helps them out in some way and I wouldn't be suprised if they end up collecting more than they need with that surcharge.

Bryant

[LordGlenconner]

14. Because then nonbody would know of their poutrage

[haele]

3. Beemers, eh? Figures

"It was never our intent to make some grand political statement about the minimum wage debate."

Right. Did you put "additional 1% increase per meal because of rising food transportation costs due to gas price hike from the BP Oil Spill" on your reciepts a couple years back? Hmmm?
Heck, most customers expect prices to go up, why make a big deal about the $.35 cents or so more, when you could have just added fifty cents or a dollar, said nothing, and everyone would have shrugged and considered it the cost of doing business.

Pretentious trash owners. "Not a political statement" - my shiney white hiney.

Trying to turn your customers against your wait staff for wanting a living wage.

Haele

[ohnoyoudidnt]

5. I think this will cost them more customers than it will change

minds on the issue. Those petty assholes

[tosh]

18. I think you're right,

but then they'll probably go whine to the State of Minnesota that it was the wage increase that harmed their business. That seems typical.

[BronxBoy]

24. Good Point....n/t

[Warpy]

4. Since it cost the average diner a paltry thirty five cents

to get the wait staff to a better average wage, I'd think the whole thing would backfire. Most people would be a little shocked that allowing restaurant staff the dignity of a more decent hourly wage added so little to their tab.

[1StrongBlackMan]

9. In most restaurants, that $.35 ...

is about 25% of the wait staff's salary ... The Server's minimum wage is no where near the $8.00 this a$$hole is protesting.

This restaurant owner is going to make some serious coin (on an annual basis) ... assuming he does experience a significant loss of customers.

[Jenoch]

13. "The Server's minimum wage is no where near the $8.00 this a$$hole is protesting."

Not true. Minnesota is one of about seven states that pays at least minimum wage to tipped employees.

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. Oh. Sorry. Ddn't mean to pass on bad information. eom.

[Jenoch]

16. There are many restaurant chains that do not

have locations in Minnesota because their business model does not work unless the servers are basically paid in mostly tips.

[Taitertots]

6. If it isn't on the menu, I'd refuse to pay it.

I'd literally flip a table in a crowded restaurant before I'd let some shyster try to steal from me with hidden fees.

If it was on the menu I'd make a scene and walk out.

[nilram]

7. If he really wants to be transparent,

they should itemize their costs for each item -- food, labor, equipment/property overhead, and owner profit. I bet the last one is more than 35 cents per customer.

[laundry_queen]

21. HA! I wouldn't take that bet.

I know some of these 'small business owners'.

[Takket]

8. "It was never our intent to make some grand political statement about the minimum wage debate."

Bullshit

Restaurants do not list what factors make up the cost of their food and show you the grand total. Why should a minimum wage hike be different from ANY OTHER factor that goes into the cost of your meal?

[Takket]

10. facebook page

This was posted on their facebook page 3 hours ago. hold your breath for this shocker: They say they are conservatives! *MIND BLOWN*!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oasis-Cafe/114768435202466

Having returned from a world without cell phones or internet service, we’d like to address some misleading information that’s spreading around the internet about our business.

Our decision to offset the recent increase in minimum wage was what we believed to be the most honest and transparent way to communicate a significant increase in our operating cost. Rather than raise menu prices, we decided to charge a flat fee per guest check.

While our family is conservative in our views, it was never our intent to make some grand political statement about the minimum wage debate. My comment about thumbing my nose at the law is being quoted out of context.

With regards to how much we pay our employees, our servers average more than $20 per hour when you consider the tips they receive. Our dishwashers make $10 to $11 and our cooks make $12 to $16 per hour. Anyone familiar with restaurant wages in our market knows we’re paying our staff a more than competitive wage.

To those who have supported our restaurant with your business and positive comments...thank you...your support is appreciated more than you’ll ever know.

To those customers who we’ve offended with our minimum wage fee, please know it was not our intent to be offensive and that we hope you’ll find a way to forgive us.

To those of you who are describing me and my wife as a corporate monster and his trophy wife...you’re only half right... yes, my wife is amazing.

To those of you who are causing my phone to beep every couple seconds...Really? How is our country ever going to solve the problems for which we are so divided with responses that can only be described as hateful?

To our team of employees...thank you for your continued hard work and unwavering support. You’re truly an amazing group of people!

To Governor Dayton, rather than continue with your negative comments about our business, we’d like to invite you for lunch to meet our amazing staff and discuss this polarizing issue in person. I suspect you’ll find we have much more in common than you might think

Sincerely,

Craig & Deb Beemer
Owners of the Oasis Cafe

[gratuitous]

19. They are just sooo misunderstood

The poor dears! They never meant to be called out for their petty, patronizing ways, and you're all just a bunch of mean poopyheads for noticing! Leave us alooooooone! We just want to be left to our robber baron ways in peace. Can't you understand that?

[Logical]

11. They are getting destroyed on yelp also! nt

[Takket]

12. oh, and the picture of the food in the August 4th posting looks disguating

[intaglio]

17. So, if they were not making a political statement,

why not put 2 cents on a cup of coffee 5 cents on a starter and 10 cents on a main meal?

[RedRocco]

20. ..

With regards to how much we pay our employees, our servers average more than $20 per hour when you consider the tips they receive.

one has to wonder if they are paying minimum wage while taxing the servers as if they made $20/hr

[madinmaryland]

22. Chef Robert would rip these restaurant "owners" a new asshole.

Playing politics with the employees is going to kill half of your business, in addition to pissing off the employees.

[hobbit709]

23. Remind not to spend my money there.