News

NRA: Tipped employees among highest-paid in restaurants

March 27, 2014

In response to President Obama's call for a higher minimum wage for tipped employees, the National Restaurant Association said "tipped employees are among the highest-paid in the establishment."

A White House report released Wednesday asked Congress to raise this specific minimum wage, which has been $2.13 since 1991.

NRA CEO Dawn Sweeney released the following statement regarding the report:

"Tips are not discriminatory, and tipped restaurant employees are among the highest-paid employees in the establishment, regularly earning between $16 an hour for entry-level servers and $22 an hour for more experienced servers. No one is making $2.13 an hour.

"The restaurant industry is a sought-after, industry of choice for millions of people, in large part because of the flexibility it offers individuals to work and meet other obligations in their lives, such as supporting a household income and caring for children or family members.

"The restaurant industry provides opportunities to men and women of all backgrounds, and we celebrate the tremendous diversity within our industry."