They definitely deserve better!
Waffle House may be investigated after making policy changes to deduct mandatory meal costs from employee paychecks.
According to the petition filed by the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW), Waffle House is taking close to $3 for each on-shift meal out of employees’ pay – regardless if they eat or not. Working with employees of the popular breakfast chain, USSW is asking federal officials to investigate the policy change.
“Waffle House is deducting their workers’ wages for meals that are ultimately being sold to customers at retail price,” the petition read.
Legally, employers are allowed to deduct the cost of employee meals, but they must be provided “at cost” and not for profit to the company. Charging $3 would be below the Waffle House menu price but on the high end if the meal goes uneaten. The union asked the wage and hour division of the Labor Department to determine the “actual cost” of the meal and decide if the company was overcharging employees.
Smith says the company doesn’t know what’s coming to them.
“We’re fed up, and we’re going on strike to demand that Waffle House end this policy across the country, listen to us and make changes that will keep us safe on the job and help us provide for our families.”
The frustrated employee also mentioned workers are subjected to pay full price for meals to go, another policy enlisted in the Waffle House manual. Workers are also charged an extra fee for “premium” meats like steaks or pork chops.
Source: Black Enterprise
