Greenwashing is when a company says it has gone “green,” but it’s just lip service. Broder’s Pasta Bar is the first that I have seen, that is, “Equity-washing.
They need more revenue to pay their staff more, and I don’t have a problem with that, but they’re deceptive about it.
Related: Man-Taxing Lesbian Owned Vegan Cafe That Started #Woke Went Broke
Here’s the backstory from Foundation for Economic Education:
…On its website, Broders’ has a notice to customers notifying them of a new 15 percent “benefits and equity” charge they’ve instituted. They justify the charge, first, by explaining that “many states have allowed reduced minimum wages for service staff in the form of a tip credit.” (More on this in a minute.)
The restaurant’s second justification is that many tippers are racist and sexist, according to uncited research. “Studies have also shown that there is inequity and built-in bias in the way consumers give tips,” the statement reads. “In general, Black or Brown servers receive less tips than Caucasian servers. There is gender bias as well.”
Went to book a reservation at my favorite restaurant in the Cities—Broders'—and was informed all customers were being charged a 15% "equity" charge.
Instead of just paying their employees more, Broders has decided to inform customers they are too racist/sexist to tip properly. pic.twitter.com/LeiC2RcPEm
— Jon Miltimore (@miltimore79) June 22, 2021
Yeah, that would have caught my attention as well. Calling me a racist tells me that you’re as condescending as all get out, and you think of me as nothing but evil.
But you still want my money.
And I’m supposed to ignore that slap in the face? Perhaps those that are all in on quaking with provoked “White Guilt” will opt-in, but why would I go? Oh, but it gets worse:
The final part of the statement says the new policy stems from wider racial injustice and is not a substitute for gratuity.
So while they are taking from you BECAUSE they “know” you don’t tip the way they expect you to, they add on a normal 15% tip and then expect more. The page where Broder’s Equity notice is located lets the cat out of the bag:
The revenue from this charge allows us to maintain a market-priced menu and to achieve our goal in creating a compensation model that provides greater equity.
Hmmm, isn’t that called “Bait and Switch”? They hook you with a lower price on the menu, but they haven’t the honesty to admit that it’s a deception – because it’s just a means to Switch from your wallets to theirs.
