New York state's wage board wants the state to hike the base wage for tipped employees to $7.50 an hour by the end of the year, part of an almost nationwide push to help servers, bartenders and other employees who count on tips for a significant portion of their income.
Meanwhile, in Texas.
Texas requires tipped employees to be paid $2.13 an hour. The last time the minimum wage for tipped employees was raised here was in 1991. While the minimum wage for the remaining hourly workers has increased many times over that same period -- from $4.25 to $7.25 -- the wage for tipped employees has stagnated for 24 years.
According to the Department of Labor, 35 states require employees to pay their tipped employees higher than the federally mandated amount, and many are reaching far beyond in an effort to lift more service industry employees above the poverty line. California mandates a $9 minimum wage for tipped employees, while Oregon requires $9.25. Washington mandates a $9.47 minimum wage for tipped employees.
We can lean on Texas to come around. Or end tipping all together. Either way, but not $2.13.