Panda Express is LYING to potential applicants! - Avis employé Server Panda Express

There is a sign outside every single Panda Express location in my city stating that they are currently hiring servers for $16-$18 per hour (they are currently doing a nation-wide hiring event). Because I have a college degree and over 20 years of customer service and food service experience, I asked for $18/hour. I went through 2 interviews and a background check before pay was ever even brought up. When I asked about it, they told me only shift leaders get $18/hour. The sign literally says SERVERS: $16-$18/hour. Does that mean a 16-year-old with no experience gets paid the same amount as a 30-year-old with years of experience? That’s not how it works. As far as I’m concerned, this is false advertising and ABSOLUTELY INTENTIONAL. Every business is struggling to find workers right now, and this is how Panda is attempting to draw people in. A typical bait-and-switch tactic. This is completely wrong and unethical. They purposely don’t bring up pay until the very end of the interview process, and then low-ball me, wasting my time and gas money. My hope is that, by making this public, I can prevent other potential applicants from wasting their time. Shame on this company!