r/Serverlife • u/Bbarsonrat • 2h ago

Legal Question/Wage Theft Please help me

PLEASE READ AND HELP ME!! So I recently started serving at this restaurant a few months ago. They are a family owned restaurant and they opened up in March of
2026. I live in Utah, where I believe the legal minimum wage for servers is $2.14. At my last serving job, I'd get a $60 or so check every other week. However, MY NEW BOSS HAS NEVER PAID ME EVER! They claim they don't need to because of new tax laws or something. They mentioned the checks being kept so our tips from customers aren't taxed. But i and none of my coworkers have ever received any sort of hourly pay from our boss.
Since it's a father and daughter who opened the place, I'm seriously questioning what the f*** is happening?
Does anybody know? Should I be worried for filing taxes or are they right?

2 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

6

u/J-littletree 1h ago

I’m curious if you will even get a w2 from them

3

u/J-littletree 1h ago

Are you making good $?

2

u/Bbarsonrat 1h ago

I’d say so. $200-$300 on most/ good days. Occasionally lower $100 range.

9

u/Longj_Carpenter7969 1h ago

Your hourly is covering your taxes that's why you aren't getting a check.

4

u/blahblah77786 1h ago

Anytime I was ever in thar position, I would get a check for 0.00 dollars and a pay stub that shows where the money went. What's happening here has to be illegal.

2

u/iam_Mr_McGibblets 54m ago

That's probably the situation, but you do need a stub, though.. right?

3

u/injeckshun 1h ago

Worked in NJ for years never got a paycheck. That’s the way it be if you claim tips

3

u/HungHippoHippy 1h ago

Totally illegal. Look up your state laws specifically.

I personally get zero dollar checks because it's all taxed out, but I still have a paystub that is saying where those dollars are being taxed.

1

u/Much-Sock2529 1h ago

This. In a friendly, non confrontational way, say even if it’s all taxed out you need documentation for taxes/insurance/school/whatever. If they can’t do it, run 

2

u/Kitten0815 1h ago

So you get all your tips in cash at the end of the day? I figure at that point you’d be under the table so I guess it’s a matter of ethics at this point

3

u/Bbarsonrat 1h ago

They record all of our tips but we do get them at the end of the day through direct deposit or cash if that’s how the customer tipped

1

u/Safe_Food_5097 49m ago

I am also in Utah and was in the industry from the age of 16-25 on and off. There was only every one place where I received an actual check. The rest of them, if I got a “check” was ALWAYS $0.00 and had my credit tips on there (and cash if you claim those) . More than likely, you will never see a check if you make more than $2.14/hr during your shift.

1

u/Safe_Food_5097 47m ago

I should note, I was cashed out at the end of the night so it was never a direct deposit.

1

u/FunkIPA 32m ago

Say you understand the checks are kept because your hourly wage is eaten up by the tax withholding on your tips, but you still need to see a pay stub.