Automat Staff Say the Restaurant’s Service Fee ‘Did Not Make Things Equal’ - Eater SF

"Automat was a casual restaurant located in the NoPa neighborhood of San Francisco. It was known for its mandatory 20 percent service fee, which was intended to create a more equitable pay structure between front-of-house and back-of-house staff. However, controversies arose when former employees claimed that the distribution of the fee was inequitable, with front-of-house staff receiving a larger share. The issues came to light in mid-2022 when a Google spreadsheet revealing the service fee distribution was shared among staff, leading to discontent and eventual closure of the restaurant in August 2023. Automat was owned by partners of the two-Michelin-starred Lazy Bear and the cocktail bar True Laurel." - Lauren Saria