The Seriously Serious Bartender

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Know The Laws That Protect Service Industry Workers

Whether you work in a hotel or a bar, the common mentality seems to be, do as your told and don’t ask questions. Maybe in your place this means tipping out everyone under the sun or working 5 back to back doubles. However, regardless of where you work and who owns the establishment, you have rights. The Department of Labor has regulations that dictate everything from your hours to your wages. You don’t have to put up with unfair treatment just because you’re in the service industry.  

Let’s Talk About Money

Your Wage

This is a tricky one. Wage laws are constantly in flux in America and it can be hard to keep up. Every state is different, but there are rules governing what your employer has to pay you. In some states tipped workers must receive the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25), while in others employers are exempt from this requirement. Now is a good time to whip out that pay stub and see what you’re getting.  Find the laws for your state HERE. If you’re not being paid the correct amount you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor. Go HERE for some frequently asked questions.

Tip-Outs

Ok, so you probably make most of your money from tips, not from your hourly rate.  Every establishment does things slightly differently, but it’s standard practice to tip out bartenders, busboys, etc.  However, even though the tip out procedure varies from place to place, there are laws that govern who is eligible to receive these payouts and who is not. For instance, you are not required to tip out maintenance workers, chefs, managers, etc. For more info, go HERE.

Keeping Your Tips

You, as a tipped employee, should be keeping all of your earned tips (excluding valid tip pooling of course).  The owner can never take any of this money from you.  Also, if your employer is taking weeks to dole out your money, they may be in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Contact the Department of Labor if you think there’s an issue.

Also, if your combined tips and wage do not equal the federal minimum wage, your employer may be responsible for making up the difference.

Overtime

Despite the variations across the country, all tipped employees should receive overtime after 40 hours of work. Additionally, this overtime should be calculated using the full minimum wage as a base, not the lower, exemption wage. Go HERE for more info.

Regulations on Hours

There are tons of regulations on hours, breaks, and pay. However, they vary wildly from state to state. Generally, for every certain amount of hours worked, you should receive a “meal” or “rest” break. There are also laws governing how much you are owed for “split-shifts:” days when you might have to work from 9am-3pm and then again from 5pm-10pm.  

While you may have heard that you are owed a certain amount of hours between shifts, there actually isn’t a legal requirement for this.  However, there are people working towards putting this in place. Hopefully that will signal the end of “clopening”.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Although yet again, these rules vary state by state, it may be illegal for a restaurant to charge you for walk-outs, cash register shortages, and other random mishaps.  Your employer may even be responsible for paying for your uniform and its upkeep.  

Look up the laws in your area if you think you’re being illegally held accountable for any costs. 

A Safe Workplace

You are entitled to a safe and healthy work environment.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforces regulations on workplace safety.  They are also the ones to go to if you have any questions or would like to report unsafe conditions.  Visit their site HERE for more info or to file a complaint, which you can do anonymously.

Note: It is 100% illegal for your employer to retaliate against you if you file a complaint.  If you are being treated unfairly contact the Department of Labor or a lawyer.

If You Are Injured 

If you hurt yourself on the job, you may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation from your employer. HERE is a handy little fact sheet about the requirements for filing a workers’ comp claim.

We take your safety and rights very seriously.  However, we are neither a government agency nor are we lawyers.  If you feel you are being mistreated or have questions about the laws in your area, contact the appropriate department.

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_laws-protect-service-industry-workers/ 

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Erasing the Stigma of the "Girly" Drink

When’s the last time you saw a big, burly man order a cosmopolitan or a sex on the beach? Probably not recently, right? Or maybe not ever.

Because remember—“girly” drinks aren’t for men. 

 

Every time I hear the word “girly,” I cringe. Not because I hate what’s considered “girly,” but because there exists an adjective specifically used to define what women—and definitely not men—are supposed to like.

Unfortunately, gendering inanimate objects is a large part of our dichotomy-obsessed society. Such pervasive stereotypes insidiously affect people’s social behavior, including, in this case, what men drink at a bar.

Over time, less-boozy drinks have come to be nicknamed “girly” in order to distinguish serious macho drinkers (men) from us delicate-palate types (women).

But how on earth is a drink considered feminine? Is it the name? The color? The taste?

For the most part it’s all of that, combined with peer pressure and the fear of emasculation. To help you visualize it a little better: A regular show of masculinity at a bar equates to quaffing a lot of plain, bitter-tasting, hard alcohol. Yuck.

According to this, then, masculinity means parading a set of super resilient taste buds.

But since when do tongues have anything to do with gender? And why is it men are not allowed to enjoy sweet flavors? If you apply this bizarre logic of “sweet = feminine” to food, men are thus “too masculine” to eat anything with similarly saccharine flavors. Why eat ice cream or parfaits, after all, when you can chow down on cement, mud or tree branches, am I right?

There’s only one word for this rigid social code: stupid.

If you’re a man out partying with your male friends—and not just any acquaintances but real, true, honest-to-god friends—why should they dictate what you order at a bar? Do they do the same when you get a bite to eat or go out to a movie or choose your outfit for the day?

I’m pretty sure the answer is no. (If not, get to a psychiatrist fast.)

So let’s end this lame trajectory of what men are supposed to do at a bar. You’re allowed to guzzle something that actually tastes good and not worry about appearing fragile. It’s not like you’re the Wicked Witch of the West capable of liquefying at the mere touch of a slightly watered-down drink.

Now’s the time to flex your esophagus. If you’re a brave man ready to go against the grain, try any one of these five deliciously “girly” drinks and you’ll be sure to start a killer conversation—at the very least, on gender.

Appletini

Ingredients:

• Vodka
• A combination of apple juice, apple cider or apple Schnapps

Look at it as a healthier alternative. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” right?

Cosmopolitan

Ingredients:

• Vodka
• Triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
• Lime juice
• Cranberry juice

If it’s anything like the infamous women’s magazine, this drink is sure to spice up your, er, naughty life.

Sex on the Beach

Ingredients:

• Vodka
• Peach Schnapps
• Cranberry juice
• Orange juice

It literally has the word “sex” in it. And all guys like sex.  

Piña Colada

Ingredients:

• White rum
• Pineapple juice
• Coconut cream

It’s exotic and cool-sounding. Imagine you’re on the beach, avoiding all pressures of masculinity, and sip away.

Strawberry Daiquiri

Ingredients:

• White rum
• Strawberries
• Lime juice
• Sugar

C’mon, everyone likes smoothies, and this one actually has alcohol in it!

Remember, it’s not like drinking a “girly” drink will suddenly alter your anatomy or chromosomal pattern. I promise you’ll walk out of the bar the same man you were when you walked in—with just slightly sweeter-smelling breath. And who wouldn’t want to kiss that?

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_erasing-stigma-of-girly-drinks/

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Top U.S. Drinking Holidays

As Americans, we love to celebrate and kick back with a few good drinks. This is also very true when it comes to certain holidays.

Here is a list of the top ten drinking holidays in no particular order.

1. Super Bowl Sunday 

The season’s biggest game is much more than just a sports event.  The Super Bowl has become a bona fide American holiday. Football fans across the U.S. flocks to bars on this big day for some good bar food, drinks, entertainment and the game.

2. Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras started out as a day that came after lent when people could start eating food they gave up for lent. Over time it has become one of the most celebrated drinking holidays in New Orleans.

3. Cinco de Mayo

Cinco De Mayo is a favorite day for those who love tequila and celebrating Mexico. This holiday marks a battle that Mexico won over France. Many people believe it is Mexico’s Independence day, which is actually a totally different day. Either way American culture has embraced this holiday and it has become a heavy day of drinking.

4. Labor Day

This holiday was meant to celebrate the workforce in America, however many people are unhappy with their jobs and career choices. This holiday has become almost a mandatory day to barbeque or to head to a bar. Of course, that is if you are lucky enough to have the day off from work.

5. 4th of July

The 4th of July is a great drinking holiday because so many people are celebrating our independence. There are even red, white and blue cocktails to go along with all the fireworks. And let’s not forget the spiked watermelon or jello shots! In the U.S. we do love a great holiday that encourages drinking.

6. Halloween

Halloween was meant to be a kids holiday, however what do you do when you have no kids and you don’t feel like sitting at home handing out candy? You either head to an adult Halloween party or you head to your local bar. Yes, as adults we still do love to get dressed up but we love that we can drink even more.

7. St. Patrick’s Day

This holiday of drinking green beer, eating corned beef and cabbage and dressing like a leprechaun is a big favorite for many. Any holiday that takes you to your local Irish pub or any bar for that matter is going to be a big drinking holiday. Just don’t leave home without wearing green.

8. Thanksgiving Eve

I don’t know if it’s the football, relatives or the food that drives us to drink on Thanksgiving.  It’s most likely a combination of these things. Or maybe it’s the fact that you just burned your turkey and ended up eating at local Chinese restaurant instead. Either way, many Americans across the nation take up lots of drinking on this holiday.

9. Memorial Day 

Memorial day is typically the first summer holiday of the year. It’s a holiday where we honor the soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. It’s a holiday most of us get off from work, giving us a three or four day weekend of fun. And just like Labor day this drinking holiday is marked with backyard barbecue and attending local bar events.

10. New Year’s Eve 

A new year is a way to celebrate the past and start anew. New Year’s Eve is a day where you are encouraged to open a bottle of champagne at midnight and indulge with friends and families. It’s no wonder with all the big New Year Eve events at many bars and drinking establishments that this is one of biggest drinking holidays in the United States.

Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog_top-us-drinking-holidays/

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