@Joseph………..
Unfortunately you do not know the law and make untrue comparisons.
Waiters are subject to minimum wage laws, however in many states (including NY and CT) tipped servers are allowed to be paid a percentage of the state minimum wage by their employer. The servers are required to report their tips to the employer each shift. In any week where the wage paid by the employer and tips received don’t add up to the full minimum wage the employer MUST pay the difference.
For example, there is heavy rain for 4 of the 5 days the server works and business is so slow that the reduced percentage wage paid by the employer and tips received/reported only equal $6.50/hr. The employer must pay the difference to bring the paycheck to full minimum wage.
Counselors are exempt from minimum wage law by statute, they do not get a reduced minimum wage.