I was contacted by team member relations. The woman I spoke to was seemingly dismissive to this idea that taking money from one employee to pay another is unfair. (She must not have to share her paycheck with her coworkers) She told me that there were “other things in testing, because they have received this feedback before.” However, she did not specify what the “things in testing” were. 

I also had a sit down conversation with the owner of the restaurant I worked for. He told me that he couldn’t care less about this petition, but that his concern was that I clearly felt that I did not make enough money. I tried to tell him that the amount wasn’t the issue, but that this was wrong regardless. He would cut me off by saying he doesn’t give a damn about the petition, and proceeded to show me a break down of how much money I was making. He asked if the petition (the one he said he didn’t care about) was forthcoming about how much money I actually making. I told him that I had given an example of how much money was taken from me, by showing how much I made. He said “okay, so, that’s a no. I bet if you actually told people how much money you make here, you would receive hate instead of support because nobody else in this town pays as well as we do.”

I could tell that he wasn’t actually listening to me, and that it didn’t matter what I said. He didn’t care. He never once viewed this petition. Some of the servers told me that I was wasting my time because “this is just how the industry is.” 

My position was terminated with Chili’s after I could not get in contact with the restaurant after being sick with fever. I called the restaurant twice, being looped on hold four times, then two times. I also sent a message out via HotSchedules to all members of management. I even reached out to the majority of my team members in an effort to get the shift covered. I was contacted by (someone) via text message who did not identify themselves, and I was asked if I knew policy for calling in. They did not care what was going on, or the fact that they wouldn’t answer the phone (policy is to answer the phone within 3 rings) I apologized for the lack of communication anyway, and I told this unidentified and unprofessional person that I would not let this happen again. They never answered. The following weekly schedule was posted, and I was not on it. 

I could not be happier to be out of there. 

Being out of the company does not change the fact that this is absolutely wrong. This “tip Pool” loophole in the law is an immoral joke. 
Thank you, and please continue to share this petition so that we can eventually make a push to change tip laws!