Letters to the Editor, Opinion Minimum wage charge at Camas restaurant is unsavory practice
We recently ate at a local restaurant in downtown Camas. We noticed an additional fee automatically added to our bill along with a red card explaining the charge.
The additional 5-percent fee called the Shared Hospitality Charge is due to “rising minimum wage,” to “compensate all non-tipped employees,” and “ensure that all staff members behind the scenes receive adequate compensation for the work they do.” This is called wages. Paid for by the owners of the business that is providing a service or product while still making a profit.
The restaurant industry will be quick to point out they are in a very competitive business and margins are tight. As a business owner, I don’t know of an industry that does not face the same dilemma. While I am willing to pay the prices this restaurant is charging, I find it difficult to believe a small increase in their prices to fairly compensate their employees would result in a drop in sales. This 5-percent fee is also keeping the income out of the company owner’s tax burden.
Business owners have a social responsibility to pay their employees a fair wage. They also have a responsibility to know their costs and what prices to charge to be a profitable company — not use covert fees to cover your employee overhead and then force them to be on the front line to have to explain the owners actions to your customers.
Dave Henzi, Washougal
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