Originally Posted by
pdisme
... I don't believe they could legally only give $1 if also paying gratuity minimum wage rate, so if it is only a dollar maybe they're also being paid a normal income?...
California doesn't have a lower minimum wage for tipped employees - they get the same minimum wage as non-tipped employees, plus the tips.
By LA city ordinance, the employees at hotels make at least $18.86/hour before tips (going up to $19.73 on July 1 2023).