Methodology
    • Lake Research Partners designed and administered this research, which was 
      conducted online from November 26 – December 8, 2019.
    • The survey reached a total of 400 restaurant workers in New York state.
    • Data were weighted slightly by gender, region, age, race, and education level, 
      to reflect the likely composition of restaurant workers. 
    • The margin of error for the base sample is +/-4.9%.
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    Summary of Key Findings
    • Restaurant workers New York are supportive of raising the tipped minimum wage 
      for workers, even in the face of strong opposition messaging.
        • 82% of workers support raising the tipped minimum wage on an initial ask.
    • While the opposition’s messaging claiming that the proposal will cause 
      restaurants to eliminate the tip system entirely and will lead to lower incomes for 
      workers has some power, workers remain supportive of the proposal throughout 
      the survey.
        • After an engaged debate in which workers hear balanced arguments from both sides, 79% 
         remain in support.
        • After full messaging for and against the measure, support lands at 77%. 
    • This is a voting issue for restaurant workers. 
        • Nearly seven in ten workers (68%) say they would be more likely to support a candidate 
         who was proposing to raise the tipped minimum wage, with over a third (36%) saying they 
         would be much more likely to support such a candidate.                                         3
    Support  for  raising  the  tipped  minimum  wage  starts  out  high  (82% 
    favor) in New York with high intensity (58% strongly favor). 
                                       Raising the Tipped Minimum Wage Initial Ballot
                                       58
                                                                 Oppose; 4
                                      Favor                      Oppose
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 Question Text: As you may know, there is currently a proposal in a number of states to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers. Most restaurant workers currently are paid lower than the 
 full minimum wage, with the difference made up by tips or by their employer. This proposal would [require employers to pay tipped workers the full minimum wage while they retain their tips on 
 top]/[raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to the full minimum wage while they retain tips on top].
    After an engaged debate in which workers hear arguments from both 
    sides,  including  the  opposition  argument  favored  by  the  National 
    Restaurant Association claiming that a tipped minimum wage will lower 
    earnings, nearly four-fifths of workers remain in favor. 
                                       Raising the Tipped Minimum Engaged Debate
                                       42
                                                                 Oppose; 1
                                      Favor                      Oppose
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 Question Text: Sometimes in a survey like this, people change their minds. There is currently a proposal in a number of states to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers to the full minimum 
 wage with tips on top. Do you favor or oppose this proposal, or are you not sure?
                                     Text of Engaged Debate
                    [PRO] Seven states, including California and Minnesota, require all employers to 
                     [PRO] Seven states, including California and Minnesota, require all employers to 
                    pay the full minimum wage with tips on top. In these states, customers still tip the 
                     pay the full minimum wage with tips on top. In these states, customers still tip the 
                    same or  better,  and  restaurants  are  thriving  with  higher  sales  and  better-paid 
                     same or  better,  and  restaurants  are  thriving  with  higher  sales  and  better-paid 
                    employees. Here in New York, tipped workers just don’t make enough money and 
                     employees. Here in New York, tipped workers just don’t make enough money and 
                    are struggling to make ends meet, unsure of when they’ll have to pick up extra 
                     are struggling to make ends meet, unsure of when they’ll have to pick up extra 
                    shifts to pay rent. Providing tipped workers with a full minimum wage with tips on 
                     shifts to pay rent. Providing tipped workers with a full minimum wage with tips on 
                    top is critical to our future.
                     top is critical to our future.
                    [ANTI] If restaurants are forced to raise wages, they will also be forced to raise 
                     [ANTI] If restaurants are forced to raise wages, they will also be forced to raise 
                    prices. That’ll lead to fewer customers, who will stop tipping, causing take home 
                     prices. That’ll lead to fewer customers, who will stop tipping, causing take home 
                    pay for restaurant workers to drop. Servers and bartenders will end up making just 
                     pay for restaurant workers to drop. Servers and bartenders will end up making just 
                    the minimum wage, which will likely be less than their current earnings per hour. 
                     the minimum wage, which will likely be less than their current earnings per hour. 
                    Servers and bartenders work hard for their tips and Americans are used to paying 
                     Servers and bartenders work hard for their tips and Americans are used to paying 
                    them. Turning servers and bartenders into regular minimum-wage workers will 
                     them. Turning servers and bartenders into regular minimum-wage workers will 
                    hurt their incomes.
                     hurt their incomes.
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