I am writing in regard to HB118, the Cash Wage Obligation Minimum for Tipped Employees. This bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Brian S. King, would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 to $3.25 an hour.
I think that this would be a great step toward providing individuals a livable wage and would provide an extra buffer against experiencing financial hardship. It would also show that we support living wages for employees in all industries.
While it is a common belief that servers are a population of teens and college students, the average age of waiters/waitresses is 29.8 (https://datausa.io). This means that many of these individuals are likely supporting families or raising children and rely on the wages they receive to do so. As somebody who makes over minimum wage and still struggles with finances, I cannot imagine the pressure one must feel to provide for a family on such a limited income, especially with the current lack of affordable housing throughout the state.
While a dollar definitely won’t alleviate all problems, it may allow these employees to sleep just a little bit better at night.
Breeann Galvin, Salt Lake City