NEPA waitresses, waiters struggle to survive as tips drop amid lingering recession
Published: November 8, 2009
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share thisWith wages of just $2.83 an hour, Marleny Encarnacion counts on the tips from waitressing at La Tolteca in Wilkes-Barre Twp. to raise her two children and pay their bills.
With the recession, tips have been scaled back dramatically, forcing the single mother to cut back on activities for her 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son.
"If I want to take them to the movies or Chuck E. Cheese, now we'll try to do something at home," said the 27-year-old Wilkes-Barre resident, who is originally from the Dominican Republic. "Now, we'll watch a movie and make popcorn at home. Customers are only tipping 10 percent or even less sometimes. Now I have to cut back on my bills. I have to cut back on anything that's not important. I'm trying to cook more at home and not eat out as much."
Waiters and waitresses did not get the benefit of an increased minimum wage in July. While some servers are paid more, many only make $2.83 an hour under the federal minimum wage. On top of the low wages, many waiters and waitresses throughout Northeast Pennsylvania say more customers are scaling back on tips, ordering less or cheaper meals, which results in a cut in tips or not eating out at all.
"It's harder now because you're not getting the same amount of money, and you're not able to live the same life," Ms. Encarnacion said. "It takes you two weeks to make what you used to make in one week."
The trends of people eating out less often, ordering less and scaling back tips are occurring throughout the state, said Patrick Conway, president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, which represents 7,000 restaurants.
"Many workers in the hospitality industry really earn their income from tips, and their cash wage is lower," Mr. Conway said. "Consumers are trading down. Their check average has gone down. If people tip at the same percentage, it's at a lower amount. People aren't dining out as often, and the industry is dealing with the same economic conditions as they rest. They're also forced to reduce costs to survive."
Throughout the state, servers' hours have been cut and restaurants have closed, leaving many jobless. The good news is while some restaurants have closed, others have opened.
Mr. Conway said he believes the worst of the recession is over and a rebound is beginning to come around quickly. During the rebound, he predicts the restaurant industry will grow and thrive.
"As the economy continues to grow, it will be good for employees as well as business," Mr. Conway said. "People will be dining out more often. We are definitely starting to see the beginning of that phase."
For now, waiters and waitresses in Northeast Pennsylvania struggle to survive.
Jose Garcia, 37, has worked full-time as a waiter at La Tolteca for the last four years. He also is originally from the Dominican Republic and now rents a home in Wilkes-Barre, where he lives with his wife, Dianela, 11-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.
With a cut in tips, it's a struggle to buy a home and pay bills, he said. He tries to save money on electricity bills by using portable heaters. He eats out less and shops less.
"On my day off, we used to go out and now we stay home," Mr. Garcia said. "We used to go shopping."
Susan Barber, 24, who works two waitress jobs while paying her college tuition, also struggles to pay bills as customers cut back on tips.
"People used to leave 50 cents or $1 and now they're only leaving 25 cents. It's just not like what it was," said the 24-year-old Luzerne resident, who is a waitress at Curry Donuts in Larksville and at Abe's Hot Dogs in Kingston. She is studying social sciences at Luzerne County Community College.
"I know from my personal experience, people don't have the money to go out and order anything," she said. "I'm cooking at home more. It's hard. It really is, especially when you're putting yourself through school."
Miss Barber works and attends school about 80 hours a week. In addition to eating out less, she struggles to pay for books. She is in debt for her education and does not receive financial aid. She said her car needs repairs but she can't afford them.
Her mother died last year from lymphoma and that was a big personal and financial loss, she said. While she can relate to others in a financial crisis, she said it irks her when people are "unappreciative when you serve them a meal" and do not leave a dime.
"How would they feel if that was their daughter or wife trying to bring home a living and having her tips drastically cut?" she asked.
Gina Parise, 34, also works waitresses at two jobs: Scanlan's in Scranton for lunch and Angelo Bistocchi's Restaurant in Dunmore for supper. She finds people are still tipping 15 to 20 percent of their order, but they are ordering less and eating out less often.
"Before, people would order soup and a sandwich and now they might just get a salad," Miss Parise said. "A lot of people who would eat out two days a week are now down to one day a week."
As a result, her tips have been cut. She said it is necessary for her to continue to work two jobs so she can still pay for the things she likes to do like going out to dinner and traveling.
Steve Furmanski, 23, a waiter and bartender at Chili's Grill and Bar in Wilkes-Barre Township, said people are still tipping 15 to 20 percent of their orders, but there is an increased interest in value meals. People like that they get a decent meal for an inexpensive price, he said.
"I do see people looking for a deal," he said. "As the prices change, the tips reflect the bill. I still feel if you are giving good service, people are going to want to reward you for that."
Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com
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