A study released by the Labor Department shows that in Upstate New York, tipped workers receive almost two dollars less than the minimum wage.
Christopher Pierce Byrne is one of the salon managers and hairstylists at Complexions Spa Beauty and Wellness. He says while Complexions does already meet that minimum wage standard, a lot of salons still do not in the area, placing a huge burden on hairstylists just starting out.
"I think it does take a lot of the pressure off, because typically, with a lot of salons or anything where you are working on a tipped basis, it's really hard to budget or plan accordingly for your monthly bills or if you want to take a vacation," he said.
A new order issued by the Labor Department will require hair dressers, nail salon workers, car wash workers and more, make minimum wage along with their tips. This order will be implemented in two phases this year. So workers will see a slight increase on June 30, and then a full match to minimum wage on December 31.
However, restaurant workers were left out of this new law.
Teo Reyes with Restaurant Opportunities Centers United says that by not including restaurant workers in this law, it is placing pressure on workers every day to do whatever it takes to make up that amount they are losing in wages.
"Not only do they have to work harder to get that minimum wage because they really need the tips to meet that threshold, they also because of that suffer from higher rates of sexual harassment, because they have to put up with anything the customer tells them," Reyes said.
Groups like Restaurant Opportunities Centers United say that they will be taking this fight once again to the legislature next year to make sure restaurant workers are included in earning the right to minimum wage.