Joe Biden’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour as part of his nearly $ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package would hurt the already battered hospitality industry, a Florida restaurateur told “The Story “on Friday.
John Horne, owner of Anna Maria’s Oyster Bars, a small group of restaurants in the Bradenton area, said his waiters already earn about $ 30 an hour through a combination of salary and tip credits.
“I mean, obviously taking money to people is helping us, but this minimum wage [hike] it will definitely destroy the hospitality industry in Florida and across the country, “Horne told presenter Martha MacCallum.
“They are trying to paint with a wide brush across the nation,” he added. “They are trying to say what is good in Alexandria, Va. It is good in Alexandria, Tenn. We cannot do that.”
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Horne added that if the minimum wage increase becomes law, and “if we all raise it to $ 15 and don’t take tip credits into account, then we’re basically going to give everyone a 50% cut in pay … because they will go from $ 30 an hour to $ 15 an hour. “
Using one of his locations as an example, Horne predicted that a minimum wage of $ 15 in addition to tip credits would increase his annual payroll by $ 500,000 or 17% of his annual sales, which he has no spare.
“I will have to raise prices. This will drive our elderly people away from Florida,” he explained. “They are not receiving the increases. My father’s Social Security has risen 1.9%. He received an increase of $ 34 a month this year. That will not help.”
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In addition, Horne said, Biden is also not taking into account high school students who work part-time or are starting their first job.
“If we don’t take teenagers’ salaries, training salaries and credit tips into account, we will shoot ourselves in the foot. Therefore, we need to spend our time on this, ”he said. “I am already paying my kitchen staff over $ 15 an hour now, because that is what my market offers. So he is already looking after himself.”