Waiters Sue Waldorf-Astoria for Stiffing Them

That's probably the reason that the Waldorf can abuse the employees. It's a really prestigious place to work and people who arrive to pursuit their art go to places like that first. They know it already and suspect they'll make more money.

I am dumbfounded to think that a prestigious place like the Waldorf would treat their employees like they did. They must have assumed the employees would not have reacted and said anything. How wrong to assume that. By doing that, it gives the place a bad reputation. And once you get that, it takes years to re-establish yourself.

@JenMac: I understand what are saying, but there is something you should know. I know a couple of restaurants that were the pillar of their communities. They serve everybody well. They were always packed. However, one employee spoke out about the conditions in the kitchen and how they were mistreated and underpaid, just like this restaurant in this forum. Well, after the employee leaked the story to the press, the restaurant received so much bad press they lost a lot of business. Within six months they closed their doors for good. So don't think because an establishment as been opened for a long time, bad things can't create problems for them, because it can.

Just thought I'd let you know. At first I thought like you but when I found out first hand, I changed my tune pretty quickly.

Right.... maybe if this was a place that was little-known, and all of the sudden became famous for treating its employees like crap, the bad press would hurt them. But in the case of the Waldorf I don't think this is going to make them see the light or anything. The only thing that is really surprising here is that the Waldorf - which I'm sure has a team of super lawyers - was found guilty of anything at all.

There was a big to-do a while back to boycott Citibank because their practices were oppressive toward third-world workers. Guess what, I don't think Citibank got any less rich. I think people patronizing Waldorf Astoria are buying a brand name that implies a certain sense of luxury begat on the backs of others who are less fortunate. I think that's part of buying in to the Waldorf Astoria scene: it's us the stinking rich, versus them the filthy poor. I doubt any kind of negative publicity on this point is going to make one iota of difference to their clientele.