We Need Relief AND Raises
- Feb 8, 2022
- 1 min read
The restaurant industry has been one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors of the United States economy for decades. Restaurant corporations valued in the tens of billions, with CEOs earning multimillion-dollar salaries, lead the National Restaurant Association, which has lobbied throughout the pandemic for a series of grants and subsidies for restaurant owners while simultaneously lobbying against any wage increases for their workers and maintaining the lowest-paid workforce in the United States. As the restaurant industry - both owners and workers - continue to struggle throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress is now considering allocating tens of billions more dollars in taxpayer funds to restaurant owners with no requirements about worker pay or treatment, while they have simultaneously maintained the federal minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers at just $2.13 an hour.
During the epidemic, many workers were left behind, receiving significantly less support than businesses, and salaries melon playground remained extremely low. This is an important lesson.
Important message—many workers were left behind during the pandemic, receiving far less support than businesses, while wages stayed extremely low. Efforts like this really highlight the need for both relief and fair pay. Even with serious topics like this, taking a quick reset with something simple like space waves can help you come back more focused.