Waffle House Announces New Compensation Plan, Servers Could See Pay Raises

By Madz Dizon

Jun 12, 2024 05:12 AM EDT

Waffle House Announces New Compensation Plan, Servers Could See Pay Raises — To Go orders are accepted at a Waffle House on Washington Road as the coronavirus pandemic causes closure of eat-in restaurants on March 30, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia.
(Photo : Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Waffle House has decided to raise the pay for its employees in the United States, which comes after a sustained effort by labor advocates.

Waffle House CEO Outlines Pay Scale Adjustments

During a recent video message to employees, Waffle House CEO Joe Rogers III announced an increase in base pay.

Starting in June, the minimum hourly wage will be raised to $3, and it will continue to gradually increase to at least $5.25 per hour by June 2026.

In his video, Rogers discussed how workers can be categorized based on their place of employment.

He explained that within a span of two to three years, most workers would see their base pay increase to either $5.25, $6.25, or $7.25 per hour.

According to Rogers, the base pay does not take into account workers' tips and may vary in certain states due to minimum wage laws, AP News reported.

Rogers mentioned that wage increases will be funded through an adjustment in menu prices. Additionally, he noted that wage growth may be slower in rural markets compared to urban areas.

The company is implementing tenure bonuses and offering premiums for employees who work later shifts.

Waffle House Compensation

Workers in Florida and Colorado can expect their wages to increase as a result of state minimum wage laws.

The plan incorporates pay differentials to acknowledge and incentivize employees who have been with the company for a significant period of time.

According to HuffPost, Server bonuses are based on years of service, starting at 50 cents per hour after three years. The bonus amount increases by 10 cents each year, capping at a maximum of $3.20 per hour after 30 years.

In addition, workers have the opportunity to receive shift premiums of up to $1 per hour for working during evenings or overnight shifts.

According to the video, diners in urban markets can expect to see higher prices as a result of these pay increases.

Waffle House believes that customers in higher-priced areas such as Atlanta and Houston may be more open to accepting price increases compared to those in lower-cost-of-living markets.

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