Comments on: They pay you how much?!?!?!

By: Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter

Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:50:03 +0000

The discussion isn’t about how unfairly treated (or paid) servers are, it is about greedy lawyers and class action lawsuits.

The ‘class’ of servers weren’t abused, they didn’t have ball and chain shackled to their ankles. They stayed because they were making serious money, much more than minimum wage.

AFTER the lawsuit, they won’t receive nearly the amount of money, individually as the greedy lawyers.

Who pays for the millions of dollars that will be paid out? Shareholders – made up of ordinary Americans, retirees, pension plans, etc.

Think people, think.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:33:44 +0000

I just want to update this topic. I was a previous employee of Applebee’s, and I am involved in this lawsuit. The final number of participants in the class is 5,500. I also want to let you know, that there is a law that no more than 20% of time worked in a “tipped job” can be spent doing work that is un-tipped. This case is very legitimate because employees were told to spend upwards of 50% of the time at work doing un-tipped duties. Applebee’s used this method of pay because it required servers to do dishes, prep work, etc. and get paid 2.14/hr. for doing it. This saves them a lot of money since they are then free of having to hire a full-time dishwasher or custodian(some of the duties also included cleaning the bathrooms,etc.) Final point, this case is not frivolous and pointless, it is about getting the money due for hours worked from a corporation who knew exactly what they were doing.

By: marc

marc — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:59:54 +0000

i echo Kim’s sentiments TOTALLY…FYI “recruiter” i do have some years of maturation and have had several stints in management and have been a majority partner in 5 sites and minority partner in 1 other…i DID pay servers MORE than the prescibed minimum AND let them have free soup, tossed salads, and FF/BP’s within reason~~it cut down on a whole host of problems and led to great employee morale. Bottom line is…it is fumdementally correct to pay the server doing a kitchen job the same amount as a ‘kitchen’ worker would make
marc

By: Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter

Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:10:10 +0000

Kim – Thanks for stopping by and reading. I can understand how you feel, based upon your perspective. I think, though, after some years of maturation and perhaps some stints in management and, if you are lucky, perhaps even business ownership, you may come to have a different opinion.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:39:29 +0000

Well, I am a server at Applebee’s, and plan to join this lawsuit, however, I do not wish to recieve money. This isn’t about money for me, or getting out of certain work. It is about PROTECTING THE AMERICAN WORKER. Currently the kitchen staff at my restaraunt can barely get thirty hours in a week. Why? Because the servers who make next to nothing as far as labor costs go, DO THEIR JOBS. I think it’s a travesty that America has turned into this kind of corporate structure. It is about time someone stands up and takes action against these CEO’s trying to make one more dollar.

I am standing up for what is right. And what is right is to protect the kitchen staff’s jobs. They keep cutting their hours more and more, and servers AND managers are doing the kitchens jobs. It’s pretty disgusting that I have to go back to the dishwasher, spray off food from plates, I get all wet, look gross, and then go wait on my tables. It is bad for business. That time could be spent making connections with my guests and building relationships. However all I hear is “labor is too high, ” guest per man hour labor” etc. My managers get so much pressure about labor costs. I understand it is a business. However, the greedy people are the CEO’s and board members. THey are wanting the extra dollar taking hours away from Kitchen staff and requiring servers (2.65 hour)and managers (because they are salary) to fill those positions. And guess what BONUS TIME! It’s bull. I’m doing what is right. And I will even put at the bottom of my official filing…”I do not wish to recieve any settlement other than people being paid correctly for the jobs they do, and if they are employeed at applebee’s in the kitchen and do a successful job, they should have no problem getting thirty hours a week.”

By: Daniel Sweet

Daniel Sweet — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:09:14 +0000

This is going to be another one of those cases that starts with postcards to 50,000 people saying, “You may be qualified to get in on our shake-down…er…lawsuit”.

And it’ll end with a letter titled, “Class Action Settlement: Applebees vs. waiters” notifying you that you’re eligible for a $5 gift card for every year you worked at Applebee’s.

And $45 million in award to Sleazy, Sue’em, & Slime, attorneys at law.

Dan