For gregster’s information, when tips, wages, and commission are all taken into account, it frequently adds up to between $17.00 (and believe me brother, that’s scraping the bottom of the barrel) and $26.00 per hour, with a current average of about $21.50. No matter how creative the accounting is, that exceeds minimum wage. Believe it or not, I have a couple of drivers who nitpick like that. Both, in my humble opinion, are narcissistic prima donnas who believe the world should operate according to their specifications. Both drivers put themselves through much unnecessary suffering by clinging tenaciously to this delusion. Even if they believe their coworkers agree with them, no one else steps forward to mimic their concerns. As much as they’d like to be self styled revolutionaries, nobody quite equates them with that. Proletariat “suffering” aside, I wouldn’t waste a pay raise on them because they’re both far too interested in staying (I think they both view the process as a game of chess and are completely unwilling to “lose” to the bourgeoisie) to actually quit to find greener pastures. Because of this, the more helpful and cooperative crew members tend to get the raises. Why on earth should I reward someone when they cause me grief? Because the law says so? I think not, as they are already earning far beyond minimum wage. As far as legality is concerned, I meet (and exceed by a comfy margin) the minimum allowable reimbursement, and I’m also providing a job that allows a driver to harvest anywhere from $7.00 to $15.00 per hour in tips, some of whom claim very little. I suppose it’s okay for them to work the system, but not okay for the system to work them.
My personal advice to drivers is as follows:
** Buy a vehicle that gets good mileage. This pretty much excludes any vehicle with 6 or 8 cylinders and it pretty much excludes all trucks. My car is a Hyundai Elantra with a 5 speed. I get about 25 in town, meaning roughly 3.5 to 4 gallons per shift. They’re also cheaper to insure and cheaper to maintain. A couple of years ago, my franchisee saw that I’d bought a new car. He said, with a wink, “So you re-upped for four more years?”
** Be early to work, your management, your co-drivers, and the customer will appreciate it. This holds especially true in inclement weather. If you’re late, you inconvenience the customer, AND your co-workers. It’s selfish and inconsiderate.
** Carry all sundries (crushed red peppers, parmesan cheese packets, plates, napkins, plastic ware, and menus) in your car just in case someone needs them. You’ll make a good impression and cultivate repeat business.
** Don’t have a big head…Nobody (including the management) is irreplaceable. A little humility and a lot of patience go a long way in this industry. Drivers are a dime a dozen…GOOD drivers are harder to find.
** Have a thick skin and a short memory. Stress often brings out the worst in people and it’s not necessarily personal. If you owe an apology, then apologize. It’s not a sign of personal weakness, but rather a sign of personal integrity.
** Don’t badmouth your boss while you’re cashing his paycheck…this is dishonorable and shows weakness of character on your part. We need a fifth column like we need a hole in the head.
** Have a full tank of gas and a full stomach.
** Don’t scam! Your co-drivers are your family too. Scamming them is NO different than taking money out of their wallets.
** Don’t say, “That’s not my job.” Your job is anything that gets the pies out more efficiently. Most of my drivers are willing and able to jump on the makeline and bang out a few pies. This gets them out the door more quickly and customers LOVE getting their food quickly.
** Promise less and deliver more.
** Be industrious. If I’m driving and it’s a slow night, I make sure the trash is out, the recycling is out, and the dishes are done.
** Don’t be a “clubhouse lawyer” Maintaining an antagonistic approach will diminish your value to the company you CHOSE to work for. We disclosed the terms and finances when you were hired, so if you’re unhappy, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you make a conscious choice to stay in a situation that you deem unacceptable, then you are indeed an idiot.
Drivers who keep these tenets in mind become a tremendous asset to the store. They’ve got my back and they know I’ve always got their back. They’ll get the best shifts and I’ll cut them the most slack. All but two of my crew “get it” and when I’m facing a real crusher of a night, I usually like my odds.