The Restaurant Wellness Surcharge
There’s a new charge on restaurant receipts. First they started adding what they think you should tip, now their adding information about what an employee costs the business. Take note of what they employee earned the business when you see this wellness surcharge.
I’m not against a business informing us about the internal costs of what they do. Sometimes it’s beneficial. For example, when your government halts the drilling of domestic oil, it’s important to note how that effects the environment, transportation costs, etc. It’s useful information. I am just wondering how detailed this should go.
The Problem Is An Unfair Wage System
The reason the restaurant is putting this information on your receipt is to counter the pre-calculated tip. They need you to bring your server’s wage up to a higher standard, so they’re trying to show that they’re doing their part too by adding health care benefit costs to the final bill. In reality, they’re just starting to peal the lid back on the nation’s unfair wage system as a whole.
Do you know who they aren’t including on that receipt? Not that there’s room on the receipt to point out all of the unfairness, but the chain is full of workers who are not getting a fair wage in order to bring you that plate of delicious steak.