A Los Angeles restaurant has come under scrutiny for charging diners a surcharge to cover health insurance for their staff and asking for a ‘water donation.’
Alimento, an eatery in LA‘s Silver Lake neighborhood, charges an optional four percent service charge on top of normal tax and tip in a bid to pay for their employees’ insurance.
According to a receipt posted on Twitter by podcaster Dave Anthony, diners can notify their servers if they want this service charge removed from bills.
It reads: ‘A 4% service charge is added to each check so we may offer our staff health insurance. Please notify your server if you would like this removed. Thank you for dining with us!’
According to a receipt posted on Twitter by podcaster Dave Anthony, diners can notify their servers if they want this service charge removed from bills
Alimento, an eatery in LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood, charges four percent service charge on top of normal tax and tip in a bid to pay for their employees’ insurance
Anthony had ordered saffron risotto tots, chili pork ribs, and braised lettuce bruschetta for his meal.
He posted his receipt online, with the caption: ‘Lotta bulls**t going on here, including charging for tap water (illegal).’
One furious commenter said: ‘Why is it up to the customer to discuss health insurance with the staff? That’s all on the boss and should be behind the scenes.’
Another said: ‘This makes people resent their server, probably reduces the tip, really petty.’
But others were genuinely confused at how the system would work.
One person said: ‘So… If the restaurant has a slow day or u opt out do staff not get health insurance that day?
‘They also seem confused about the word “donation” aren’t they voluntary?
‘They appear to have pulled an amount out of thin air and decided to charge for something that should be free?’
The head chef and owner of Alimento, Zach Pollack, has receive multiple accolades in the culinary industry, and was even featured on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list.
The website says that at the restaurant: ‘The food is complemented by an eclectic wine list showcasing lesser-known varietals and hard-to-find wines from small producers.’
The restaurant also has a ‘water works program’ where a portion of the $1.50 donation towards still or sparkling water is given to SLRC, the Silver Lake Reservoir Conservancy.
The head chef and owner of Alimento, Zach Pollack, has receive multiple accolades in the culinary industry, and was even featured on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list
And in 2014, the restaurant added a line on all checks for ‘kitchen gratuity’ to allow people to also tip the cooks, not just the waiters.
This comes as America’s tipping culture seems to have spiraled out of control – with consumers pressured to give tips even when little to no customer service was received.
Staff at Apple’s first unionized store in the US are in talks to implement a tipping system at the check-out.
Workers at the Maryland branch – which became unionized last year – plan to ask customers if they wish to add an optional gratuity worth 3 to 5 percent of their purchase or a custom amount.
A 5 percent tip on the latest MacBook Air – which retails at $1,199 – would work out as $59.95.
It comes after shoppers complained they are increasingly being asked to tip at self-checkout machines – despite having zero interaction with employees.
Currently Apple’s policies state that store workers who accept a tip from a customer will be automatically fired.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk