Report: Colorado restaurant puts the kibosh on tipping
A Denver-area restaurant owner says she has a plan to eliminate tips and improve the lives of employees, according to KDVR.
The station reports that Abrusci’s Italian Restaurant in Wheat Ridge has banned tipping, and is adding a flat 20 percent service fee to customers’ bills.
“We want to pay them a livable wage that they haven’t had in this industry,” ownerNancy Progar told KDVR.
The report says the 20 percent service fee will go to payroll. Salary for full-time servers will start at $37,000 per year. Part-time servers will start at $20.00 an hour and kitchen staff will start at $15.00 an hour.
The restaurant says the change will also allow it to offer some benefits, including paid time off, sick days and holiday pay.
The change will take effect on July 20.
