There is a growing trend among some restaurants to include a “Wellness Fee” on diners’ receipts. Founding Farmers in King of Prussia is one of the restaurants, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.

The restaurant chain which is based in the Washington D.C. area recently started charging a five percent wellness fee.

According to the company website, the fee “supports free mental health resources” for their employees and their families” and “access to health insurance, paid sick leave, and increased operating costs.”

In the statement, Founding Farmers emphasized that this surcharge is not gratuity.

In a separate blog post, the restaurant chain added more details, explaining that the fee will also cover the rising costs of goods, increasing labor costs, and pandemic-related loss.

Some critics question why restaurants like Founding Farmers simply don’t raise prices on the menu instead to cover these costs.

Founding Farmers explained in the post that the wellness fee amounts to less of a hit on the customer’s wallet.

Other restaurants have been adding other types of surcharges to compensate for rising costs and pandemic loss. Some have instituted a “kitchen appreciation fee” instead, the New York Post reports.

If you notice these types of fees on a bill, you can ask to have them removed.

Read more about the wellness fee that might be tacked onto your receipt in Philadelphia Magazine.

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