Waiters' health care cost showing up on restaurant bill
, some diners in San Francisco got a nasty surprise recently when they found, on their check, an added charge for the health care of the restaurant's staff. The charge is a plea from the owners for recognition of the burden placed on them by a new city law requiring them to offer their workers health care coverage.
The local restaurant association has filed a lawsuit attempting to overturn the mandate, which could be ruled upon within the next few weeks.
I hope the owners receive a lot of complaints, for fear that the concept could grow out of control. In my nightmare, where our nation's restaurants are asked to collect for more of our national social programs, the bill might look like this:
Coffee...........................................$1.65
Fish sandwich............................$7.95
Healthcare..............................$745.00
Social Insecurity......................$65.00
Childcare................................$125.00
Eldercare................................$335.00
Iraqicare................... $63,550,000.00
Subtotal.................... $63,551,279.00
Tax............................... $4,448,589.00
subtotal.................... $67,999,868.00
Tip................................................$2.00
Total...........................$67,999,870.00 No checks accepted.
While New Yorkers may be used to a restaurant bill of this magnitude, it will come as a shock to those of us accustomed to the menu prices of Waffle Houses in fly-over America.
