Local Restaurant Adds Surcharge To Tabs To Pay For Employees’ Healthcare

CBSLA.com) ^ | February 17, 2014 10:39 PM

[BenLurkin]

HANCOCK PARK (CBSLA.com) — A local restaurant has added a surcharge to every tab in order to pay for its employees’ healthcare.

République, located on La Brea, is emerging as one of LA’s more popular, newer restaurants. However, the three percent surcharge is bringing about mixed reactions from the restaurant’s customers.

One critic on the review site, Yelp, claimed: “It’s not MY responsibility to take care of YOUR employees’ healthcare… that’s YOUR job.”

“Everyone has the same policy that I do as the owners,” owner and chef Walter Manske said. “And we offer it to everyone; (the) dishwasher, busboy, waiters, across the board.”

Manske says that, ultimately, it is up to the customer whether to take the surcharge out of the gratuity.

There are other customers, however, who don’t mind the surcharge on the basis of healthcare for workers.

“Adding it to the tip, or taking it away from the tip is normal, and I think it’s important that everybody has healthcare within the restaurants,” customer Chris Jordan said.

Under Obamacare, businesses like République, that have over 50 full-time employees, are required by law to provide affordable healthcare benefits.

Manske, meanwhile, says that the surcharge system is the solution to that requirement that works for the restaurant and that most feedback has been positive.

“Even if this isn’t the perfect solution, it’s definitely a solution, and so far, there isn’t any other solution.”

[Old Yeller]

Embrace the suck!

[andyk]

Of course the customer has an option not to eat there, but that wasn’t the point to which I was responding.

I’m really confused why people think exposing the hidden costs of obamacare is a bad thing. Is it better to just raise the menu prices and hide it? Seems like good activism to me.

[jsanders2001]

Would take that restaurant off my list of places to eat at then

[pgkdan]

Then raise the damned price so I know what I’m paying up front!

[andyk]

I’m sorry, but I don’t get what’s so stupid about what the critic said.

By paying your bill, you are paying for the health care of the employees, whether it's shown as a separate line item, or bundled into higher menu prices. Otherwise, the assumption must be a) the employer is taking the additional costs out of his/her own profit, or b) the employer has found cost savings elsewhere to offset the additional cost of new health care benefits (smaller portions, etc.).

[definitelynotaliberal]

I like this idea.

[MrB]

Curious - why would you take this restaurant off your list for specifying and itemizing the costs that other restaurants would pass on to you without telling you why the prices are what they are?

[Gritty]

Any way you slice it, it sucks for the waiters

Any way you slice it, it sucks for everybody

[andyk]

If a 10% increase in corporate tax rates, for instance, led directly to a 10% surcharge in the price of consumer goods, maybe the LI voters would be less inclined to favor increasing taxes on corporations.

Bingo! The idea is to show transparency to the people who are stupid enough to think that money for these programs comes out of thin air.

[VRW Conspirator]

“Everyone should have to write a check to the IRS 4 times a year like those of us who are self employed.”

Agree, but make it monthly.

And payable only to the state in which the employee resides. Let the states send the check to Fedzilla.

[Mr. K]

That dumbass does not realize he could just have raised the prices 3%

[jsanders2001]

> Curious - why would you take this restaurant off your list for specifying and itemizing the costs that other restaurants would pass on to you without telling you why the prices are what they are?

Because I don’t want them to set a precedent that other businesses will follow until the issue and the effects are weighed.

[jsanders2001]

> Do you really think you aren’t paying for it? It’s just being shown to you upfront, that’s all.

Before they weren’t required to insure them. Now they’ve given the King the answer he needs to push it even harder. The ACA needs to be repealed period.

[jsanders2001]

It also means you paid more for your food and that more money was stripped from your wallet. Sounds like you support the ACA. I call supporters - traitors.

[TigersEye]

Won’t it be easier to repeal if more people know that they are paying for it every time they turn around?

[elkfersupper]

The IRS will probably have something to say about this, soon, if more businesses start this practice.

I wish EVERY business would do this.

Not that anybody ever looks at their receipt from the 7-11 or Walmart.

[elkfersupper]

Then raise the damned price so I know what I’m paying up front!

Okay, so the Obamacare tab goes on the menu.

What's the difference?

[elkfersupper]

Because I don’t want them to set a precedent that other businesses will follow until the issue and the effects are weighed.

They've been "weighed" and found to be destructive and ridiculous.

If you want to "weigh" the fattest chick in the room, go ahead. Just don't involve the rest of us.

[hinckley buzzard]

I guess you don't believe in tips then. Nice guy. Please, just don't go around telling anyone you are a "conservative."

[jsanders2001]

> Won’t it be easier to repeal if more people know that they are paying for it every time they turn around?

People will forget why the prices went up. And if that mindset takes hold the n0 will view it as success and a green light for further intrusions making you pay for it every time. 100 % taxation isn’t even enough for the socialists as long as its YOUR money.