Is it legal for a restaurant to make a server pay when someone walks out on a bill?

[Anonymous]

I work at a locally owned and operated Japanese steak bourse and had a table walk out on a 90$ bill. The owner of said restaurant is trying to make me pay full price for their food since it was “my responsibility to make sure they paid”. Keep in mind this was a 12 top party that had checks split 11 different ways. The person who was supposed to pay for the two people walked out as I was getting payment for the last few people. Keep in mind I only make 2.15 an hour and all together today for a double shift I only made 100$

[MikeInHawaii]

In most states it’s illegal. And, I live in the state with the highest Asian population. In my experience, Asian business owners don’t seem to think our labor laws apply to them. I have a Vietnamese former employer who owes me $4,000 in back pay for overcharging me for health insurance. The state department of labor investigator says he owes it, but doesn’t seem interested in doing any more than making an occasional phone call to get him to pay up.

[MannyFrs]

fuck that take it to the Better Business Bureau actually just say this "What you are attempting to pull here is illegal and if you continue i'll seek the legal authorties out and and sue you so bad people will get you confused with a sewer because you stank so damn much and yes im bored and im closing my browser now lol byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[TheMajesticKing777]

Nope, that isn't legal in the US, it's actually a very big problem to mess with an employees salary in the US

[Asker]

I thought so. Because they also take 15% of all of our tips as well as take taxes out of my 2.15 an hour so all of my paper checks are usually void because I “make to much” and “owe” him money

[TheMajesticKing777]

You should report him to the police or even better get proof somehow and file a lawsuit against the company

[Asker]

I don’t have the money for a lawsuit and as far as the police go the entire police force eats free at our restaurant so they won’t even follow up on some of my female coworkers assault causes that happen in our kitchen so I doubt they’d care if he was stealing money

[TheMajesticKing777]

Personally I would have rammed such a lawsuit so deep in his ass that he would be limping for decades, if it's not foot digging up there

[Asker]

If I had the money or could get enough to even start a lawsuit you can bet I’d do it. It’s just I’m a full time college student and I have bills and barely make ends meet as it is without having to pay for lawyers

[TheMajesticKing777]

They will have to enforce the law, it's their job, you can report all the cops to the department if they didn't comply and obey the law

[Kiss_Me]

Yeah, you should just roll over and be a victim. You obviously lack the strength of character to do anything about it

STOP WITH THE EXCUSES AND REPORT THIS GUY TO WHOEVER WILL LISTEN AND GET YOUR MONEY.

[animesenpai]

Nope that is 100% against the law contact your local department of Labor

[Asker]

If I contact the labor department and the owner finds out couldn’t it result in him firing me

[animesenpai]

Depending on the state if he fires u for reporting him. That could also be illegal. Lots of labor lawyers work for free for a cut of the judgment totals

[Smallboobsgotohell]

No? Call the police

[Smallboobsgotohell]

How is that a server's fault if someone just sneaked out of the store? This owner is garbage

[Asker]

After I told them they walked out they proceed to tell me that I needed to go outside and make them come back inside to pay as if a 5ft 100lb 20 year old could force someone to pay there bill

[exitseven]

I have heard that this is a common practice.

[In_Trance]

It's legal if that's what you signed on for

[Asker]

It’s not what I signed on for though

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of that happening.

[Dargil]

Absolutely not.

[Anonymous]

No contact your state's department of labor.