In California, tipped employees are defined as workers who receive at least $30 per month in tips. This includes everyone from bartenders to waiters, and even hairstylists! If you're one of these lucky folks, you might be surprised to learn that your employer is only required to pay you a lower minimum wage, as long as your tips make up the difference.
But here's the thing: California law says that employers have to pay tipped employees a minimum of $12.00 per hour, which is the same as the regular minimum wage. However, if the employee earns enough tips to bring their hourly wage up to $15.00 or more, the employer can use those tips to offset the minimum wage requirement. It's like a fun math problem, right?
Now, you might be wondering, what about overtime pay? Don't worry, California's got that covered too! Tipped employees are entitled to overtime pay, just like everyone else. But, there's a catch: the overtime rate is calculated based on the employee's regular rate of pay, which includes their tips. It's like a puzzle, and we're here to help you solve it!
