OOH YAY I'm a waitress now too!
I have started working in an Italian restaurant. I've only had 2 shifts but I will be getting more as ppl go to uni. They seem a bit lax with bothering getting my TFN and stuff. If I wasn't trying to earn enough to gain Youth Allowance that would be ok but I need to prove I have worked and earnt enough but its hard without them giving me and actual payslip as proof of payment with tax taken out, etc. Its just cash in hand, only $10/hour!! I think it may be below award wages but its only a weekend job so I'm not too concerned, I earn a fair bit in my day job but if this was my only job I would be screwed. But I have heard rumours around town that the current owners are selling the business so that might be why they aren't really bothered, coz it won't be their problem for much longer!
Storytime: On my first shift I was taking two pizzas outside through those heavy plastic curtains that keep the flies out. An old guy was holding them open for me but let go before I was through. They curtains swung and hit one of the pizzas, which went flying from the plate, and was everywhere on the ground!!! I could see it happening in slow motion, you know what is going to happen, but you can't do anything to stop it (also coz I had a pizza in the other hand too), you're just there saying "NOOOOOO!!!!!". Needless to say, the boss wasn't too happy... But then again, if they can afford to give everyone a free pizza at the end of their shift, surely it wasn't too much inconvenience to make another pizza for that guy..
PS. No, I wasn't tempted to scrape the pizza up and serve it to the guy. He saw it all. And plus, all the ham and mushroom fell off and the slices were all separated, it wasn't edible.