to think there is something wrong with Americans?

[TheBloodManCometh]

In Colorado, here for 5 weeks.

Why the HELL is there a half inch gap on either side of the door in all public toilets?? You can see everything going on!!!
This has been the case everywhere I've been in America?
AIBU to be both baffled and embarrassed

lighthearted btw. I don't really think there's something wrong with the Americans

i think there is a minimum wage though? or have i made this up? if tips don't reach it does the employer make up the difference?

Light housekeeping usually no, but if you don't have much money in the US usually you can get state health insurance.

As far as health insurance goes it's the working/middle class who has the most issues. Our health care costs are going up because of the ACA. But that's okay.

Usually has the most issues, I mean. :)

Minimum wage can be avoided if tips are expected to form part of their income, so an employer can say "you should make $X per week in tips so that means your hourly rate is $y so you should make minimum wage" of course that doesnt always happen. It was initially part of the UK NMW but was soon got rid of, especially when it became clear that tipping rarely happens and employers were just using it to pay peanuts regardless of whether they get the tips or not.

i remember it in the uk as i was waitressing at the time that there was lots in the press about it, fortunately for a company that paid minimum wage as standard and you kept all your tips on top of that

In the US, if what the employer pays plus what the worker gets in tips does not equal minimum wage, the employer has to make up the difference.

Perhaps technically the employer has to make up the difference but it never ever happens (long-time ex-waitress here)

It depends on the state. Some have to pay minimum, regardless of tips. (Either federal or state minimum, whichever is higher) so tips are a bonus. Others pay a lower base pay, and that either has to be made up by tips or employer to equal minimum. In either case it is illegal to have your employee taking home less than minimum wage.

And tips are shared, so you only tip by adding to the bill.

I always leave cash on table, it's more like 10%.

also staying in rented house they asked me to put some washing on as i leave e.g sheets as a courtesy which is fine but don't leave u any wash powder which I think is a bit cheeky. in fact I did 2 loads.

I hated the tipping thing. So alien to my nature.
I found the tax thing confusing too. I'd pick something up that was priced at $10 and get a $10 bill out to pay, only for the cashier to say it was $11.76 or whatever. Why not show the price including tax on the ticket? It's not like I can avoid paying it.

Well, from a retailer's standpoint, better to put the lower price on the ticket. I believe there are also laws regulating how you can show tax in prices, I'm not sure.

You learn to do the math in your head!

Tax also varies state to state, so if a national retailer is setting prices for their stores, they can't include the tax, as it will differ.

The UK has tips on top of minimum wage, whilst I think the US does not have to top up if tips fall short here

In the US, if what the employer pays plus what the worker gets in tips does not equal minimum wage, the employer has to make up the difference.

Only if you work full time, so if you work 40 hours, you can't get below what a min wage 40 hour pay check would be. If you work part time, or are listed as part time, you get part time wages. Which means that since you aren't working full time, there's no minimum amount you have to make. There are very few waiters that work full time.

Also, with so many people needing jobs, if a waiter complains it's easy to just stop scheduling them and get a new person. There's no legal issue with that since they didn't fire you, they just "couldn't fit you in the schedule". Ever again.

Anyway, the food industry just sucks in general. You will never meet more pain in the ass customers outside of the food industry.

carol my reading of that is that they do have to top up to federal min wage at least

ah ok x-post

When we were in Florida I found it virtually impossible to find fruit and veg, is this usual? Ie only apples in local shops and hardly any meal in restaurants contained veg only say tomatoes in tomato pasta no extras or sides etc. just meat/ fish and carb

Definitely not usual!

I live in a very small Midwestern town and it's less easy to come by during the winter, but there are always apples and bananas and oranges (as well as their citrusy cousins like tangerines etc) and grapes. Usually kiwi. Other fruit we get frozen for smoothies and crumbles because it's not good out of season.

But during the warmer months there is that plus all the berries, pineapple, peaches, plums, nectarines...basically anything.

Most restaurants also offer a salad with your meal and even the most basic places will usually give you a side of something like steamed broccoli and carrots if you ask.

I love veggies so in bigger places will often just ask for a big bowl of whatever they've got, with some chopped meat and feta.

I would say this is very unusual, yes.

Our local Publix has a vast fruit and veg section with a huge variety.

Restaurants we go to have good selection of veg too.

But cheerful yank in the uk a bowl of veg is standard with your meal (unless you go to a burger place)you don't have to ask for it, so if one doesn't arrive we think it isn't available

Well usually it does come with your meal, either in the form of a salad or just as a side. But I meant even in really basic places, I've never heard of them not having anything.

If you go to a good steakhouse in the USA or uk a steak will often arrive by itself but the staff will ask what sides you would like (green salad, broccoli, fries and in Texas, mac and cheese )

What stores and restaurants did you go to inflorida Artandco? Even target and has a decent range of fruit and veg and most texas supermarkets (Randall's, heb, wholefoods) put uk supermarkets to shame in their fruit and veg and salad aisles. Texas is not known for healthy eating either....

Sarcymare I'm not sure it is standard here anymore. When I lived in the States, everything came with veg or salad (or fruit oddly). Here, in a lot of places you order and pay extra for all sides.

I went to high school out there - no doors at all!!!

How odd re not finding fruit and veg. They have tonnes of it! They even grow it. Where were you looking? Even Disney will give you fruit!