Legislation Could Cut Server Wages

Lawmakers approved a bill that may cut the wages for servers across Florida, according to an article from Tampabay.com.

Senate Bill 2106 would give restaurant owners an option to pay their servers a $2.13 hourly wage instead of the current $4.65.

The bill comes with a caveat though. Restaurant owners must guarentee that the servers earn at $9.98 an hour with tips included. If they don't the restaurant must make up for the money not gained.

Under the current law, restaurants and bars must pay their servers a flat rate of $4.65 and make up for the rest if tips don't add up to at least $.7.67 an hour.

While the new bill guarentees a slightly higher rate of pay, servers may be losing out on their pay if the bill passes.

If a server makes $12 an hour with tips included right now, the restaurant woul still have to pay the server the flat hourly rate of $4.65 an hour. Under the new bill and  the same $12 an hour scenario, the restaurant would only have to pay servers $2.13 an hour.

With so many restaurant and bars on the beach, we want to know what you think of the new bill? Let us know in the comments.