PRWA Wage Transparency FAQs
Is this legal?
Yes, it is totally legal and protected by federal labor law. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 protects employees' right to organize unions, collectively bargain, and engage in other protected, concerted activity including sharing wage information.
Is this anonymous?
Yes, this spreadsheet will remain anonymous to prevent the identity of workers. Our spreadsheet will be monitored by Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid and any identifying information will be redacted to protect restaurant workers. Workers who ask to receive follow up from Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid will have their emails hidden from the public.
Who will be viewing the spreadsheet?
The spreadsheet is available for the public to view, meaning that restaurant owners, managers, local press, etc. are able to view the information that it contains. Restaurant workers are the intended primary audience, so that we have important information about wage and benefits standards in our industry and can better advocate for ourselves and our co-workers.
Can I share this spreadsheet to my co-workers and/or past workers?
Absolutely! Please share this spreadsheet to any workers who lived/worked in Allegheny County employed by the restaurant industry within the last ten years.
Can I enter multiple restaurants/multiple job positions?
Yes, workers can create multiple entries if they would like. If you are currently working more than 1 job in the industry, we ask you to make separate entries for each workplace. If you would like to use our spreadsheet to include previous jobs, we ask you to accurately report the year started and year ended.
How do I indicate if my position changed during my time employed by the Company?
The position question (“What is/was your position”) can have multiple answers selected. If your position changed drastically, i.e. moving from FOH to BOH, you can submit information individually if you believe that will best portray your data.
What if someone who works at the same restaurant as me has already made a submission?
No worries, you are still able to make a submission! We encourage workers to submit their information even if some of their coworkers have already done so. That way, our community can see the most accurate information about workers’ experiences at a specific restaurant.
Who can I contact if an employer retaliates against a worker who makes a submission?
This spreadsheet is designed to be anonymous in part to protect workers from retaliation by employers, and it is legal to share information about pay, benefits, and working conditions. However, if an employer retaliates against their workers, legal resources are available to protect your rights.
You can file a charge with the NLRB here.
Contact Neighborhood Legal Services
Call the Allegheny County Bar Association lawyer referral line: 412-261-5555
Our Know Your Rights webinar with Pitt Law & Neighborhood Legal Services is available to watch here.
What if I am an employer and I disagree with a submission?
We have created a separate employer form for employers to fill out. Employers are more than welcome to fill out the employer specific sheet regardless if an employee has filled out our employee form.
Who should I contact if I made an error in my submission?
Please email Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid at tips@pghrwa.org to correct any errors.
Do you want to get more involved in Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid’s advocacy work?
You can send an email to tips@pghrwa.org to learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities and advocacy projects to help workers across the Allegheny County region.