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Waitress Is Heartbroken Over Unfair System Making Her Give Up More Tips To Cooks Than She Takes Herself
Tipping culture is one of those issues in the United States that are going to divide most groups of people into two opposing camps. On one side of the fence, you have some businesses that see it as something that should continue to exist and even be encouraged. On the other side, you have service industry employees who desperately need it to change so they have some proper financial stability in their lives.
Having to rely on tips just to make ends meet can put a huge amount of pressure on you. Especially if you’re waiting tables and the restaurant expects you to give the cooks a large part of your tips. That’s exactly what happened to TikToker @__heylee_ who went viral after asking the internet if it was fair how much she’s forced to tip out the other employees. Scroll down for the full story.
Bored Panda reached out to @__heylee__ via TikTok direct message, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from her.
@__heylee__ The other waitresses work 8 hour days from open – close and make way more money so of course they can tip out $25 on the week days and $40 on the weekends. But I come in later and I’m always put in the section that doesn’t get a lot of business because it’s for overflow. I feel like I’m being treated unfairly and the other waitresses just say “we don’t make that much more than you do, and we still have to tip out”. What do you guys think? #waitressing#waitressproblems#serverlife#foryou#whatdoyouthink#comment#like#share#boost#treatedunfairly♬ original sound – Hey Lee
RELATED:
TikToker @__heylee__ went viral after sharing how much she’s forced to tip the cooks
Image credits: Pressmaster (not the actual photo)
“You guys wanna hear something [messed up] up? All right”
Image credits: __heylee__
“I work as a waitress and when I first started there we tipped out the cooks 10% of whatever we made.”
“Or a little bit more if we made more, you know, whatever. And so, lately, they haven’t been really happy with the amount that I’ve been tipping out ’cause it’s been a small amount. I only work like two or three hours a day”
Image credits: __heylee__
“I don’t make that much money. So my boss made it mandatory to tip them out 25 on the weekdays and 40 on the weekends”
“So now it’s Saturday and I only worked two hours and it was slow. So they sent me home early and she still expected me to pay out 40 bucks, but that’s like the exact amount of tips that I made. And so I went to her and I told her about it.”
Image credits: __heylee__
“She made me tip 25 and I only went home with 15”
“Do you guys think that’s fair?”
Image credits: drazenphoto (not the actual photo)
It’s essential that service industry employees know the local labor laws and their own rights
TikToker @__heylee_’s video had over 638.6k views at the time of writing, and resonated with a ton of people online. People could really feel the unfairness of the whole situation.
How tipping functions will depend a lot on the state you live in, the local minimum wage laws, as well as the particular culture of the company you work for. So there’s a lot of place for nuance here.
If you want to know whether or not the restaurant, cafe, or pub you’re working at is being fair to you, you have to read up on the local laws and see what your rights are, and how tipping non-tipped minimum wage employees (i.e. the back-of-the-house) works. There are no shortcuts here. You may want to consider seeking free legal advice on labor laws, too.
Servers sharing part of their tips with the cooks and other back-of-the-house employees is nothing new. But there’s a need for balance here.
After all, it’s not just the servers who keep the whole operation afloat: they’d have nothing to serve and it’d be hard to keep the customers happy if the food that left the kitchen was constantly sub-par. However, it wouldn’t make sense to give the cooks basically all of the substantial tips that you earn through hard work, charm, and politely smiling through the pain.
Image credits: imagesourcecurated (not the actual photo)
Tipping culture has a lot of issues
TikToker @__heylee explained how her boss made it mandatory to tip the cooks out $25 on weekdays and $40 on the weekends. The issue is that this is a huge amount of money for the server because she only works 2 to 3 hours each day. Essentially, this means that she’s left bringing home a tiny amount of money. The situation could be solved by changing the flat amount she’s supposed to tip to a percentage, working longer hours, or… scrapping tipping as a whole and paying everyone a fair, dignified wage.
In a follow-up video, the TikToker considered the idea that the way that tipping functions at her workplace could be someone’s way of trying to get some of the servers to leave by creating an even worse environment for everyone.
As we’ve written on Bored Panda before, many servers feel that tipping culture as a whole should be thrown out the window and replaced with paying a proper wage. It’s how things are done all over the globe, and it works.
The sign of a good server is that they’re attentive to their customers, can anticipate their needs, and generally create a memorable experience. However, not every customer is going to be a saint. We’ve written before how some people demean the members of staff by using large tips as an ‘incentive’ to do whatever they want. Workers deserve better.
Image credits: drazenphoto (not the actual photo)
Here’s what some TikTok users thought after seeing the viral video
What do you think ?
Ace 2 years ago
"On one side of the fence, you have people who see it as something that should continue to exist and even be encouraged." Who? I mean apart from business owners who don't want to put up their menu prices to be able to pay a proper wage, who could possibly be in favour of this ridiculous situation?
Panda Pandemic 2 years ago
Brainwashed people who have been convinced it's just the way it is. People who think it's ok because it isn't happening to them.
Load More Replies...
Tamra 2 years ago
Every bit of this is ridiculous. Restaurants need to pay ALL their workers a decent wage, or not be in business.
Mariko Fujita 2 years ago
This^. A majority of healthy restaurants (ones not in oversaturated areas) would have no problem paying proper wages and keeping menu pricing favorable, they may just need to switch from driving an AMG to a Lexus. The ones that need to be on life support (aka underpay service staff and subsidize with tipping) would need to raise menu pricing and find out if they're actually a 'good' restaurant or just a 'cheap' restaurant that's surviving because people are okay with mediocre at a low price. Either way, that's business. I don't believe the entire restaurant sector would end if a proper min wage was introduced, you'd just weed out the mediocre and some service staff there would be picked up by ones that thrive with less competition in their area. There would be job loss, but I don't think as Armageddon'ish as pro tippers make it out to be.
Load More Replies...
Anne S. 2 years ago
I've worked lines and Bqt in several states. Never heard of wait staff having to tip the BOH. I was given a few dollars here and there when it was crazy busy and did something really special for a guest. (They tipped the waiter very well.) I have never seen or heard of any restaurant, hotel, etc force wait staff to tip out to line cooks. If I were you, I would call the labor department and tell them what's going on. Then, I would call the board of health. I'm sure you've seen plenty to report them on...food not being at least 6in off ground, no date or label on items, no rotation. You get the idea.
Roddfergg 2 years ago
I actually don't know a state where it isn't illegal to require tipped employees to tip out wage employees.
Load More Replies...
Eileen Hetherington 2 years ago
Illegal. The management wants you and the other servers to pay the cook's wages.It is illegal to be forced to tip other employees. Also, cutting people's hours in restaurants is not always about getting rid of them. They do this for a variety of reasons. However, a server needs at least 30-35 hours at an mid-range place to make any decent money. Work somewhere else. Management sucks here.
Caryn Zent 2 years ago
Ridiculous. Cooks are not paid based on getting tips like wait staff are.
Stephanie 2 years ago
Yeah something is really wrong here. Many years ago when I was a server I was expected to tip out 10% to the bussers (which they pooled). A flat amount is a problem because the restaurant is required to report 8% of sales to the IRS as minimum taxable tips. She's not just losing money, she's paying taxes on that lost money. Restaurants are always looking for experienced servers - time to move on.
Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
It's sad that they even have to rely on tips to add up to what their boss pays to get by .... Their boss should start with a decent wage to begin with, without all those waiters and waitresses there would be not one serving food and taking cr@p from customers.
Roddfergg 2 years ago
Back in the 90's I made $2-300 most nights waiting tables and bartendeling. So minimum, compared to $30-60 an hour? In fact I made more as a server than an owner. Good waiters make bank.
Load More Replies...
MurderMittens 2 years ago
I've had to tip bartenders, cooks, busboys, but it was a percentage.
Rasheeda Pennybaker 2 years ago
I remember when my godbrother's Christening. We all went to Golden Coral. We had planned and told the restaurant a week ahead. The young male that came in to work our party was really sweet. The manager was trying to get at least 2 workers but nobody would come in and do it. It was a party of about a little over 20 people. This young man was actually off because his grandma passed away. But he didnt want us not to have anyone to wait on us. We felt so honor for him we decided to make sure he left with more than $100 in tips. My uncle We call him Mr. Money man he respects young males that takes their jobs seriously and have connections with so many people plus has his own restaurant in a different city than where we lived. He was chatting with the young man who was 16 saving up for a car. He gave him $50 in tips and a business card of one of his best friends that has a real nice car lot. He called him and gave him the kids number. I believe he left there with $200 in tips. This was 16
Rasheeda Pennybaker 2 years ago
Years ago. I love hardworkers. His manager was very please and told us we can have all the parties we want. We also made sure it wasn't a mess you know how kids can be? I believe no matter where you are treat it like it's your home. I picks up after my kids no matter where we are.
Load More Replies... Ace 2 years ago
"On one side of the fence, you have people who see it as something that should continue to exist and even be encouraged." Who? I mean apart from business owners who don't want to put up their menu prices to be able to pay a proper wage, who could possibly be in favour of this ridiculous situation?
Panda Pandemic 2 years ago
Brainwashed people who have been convinced it's just the way it is. People who think it's ok because it isn't happening to them.
Load More Replies... Tamra 2 years ago
Every bit of this is ridiculous. Restaurants need to pay ALL their workers a decent wage, or not be in business.
Mariko Fujita 2 years ago
This^. A majority of healthy restaurants (ones not in oversaturated areas) would have no problem paying proper wages and keeping menu pricing favorable, they may just need to switch from driving an AMG to a Lexus. The ones that need to be on life support (aka underpay service staff and subsidize with tipping) would need to raise menu pricing and find out if they're actually a 'good' restaurant or just a 'cheap' restaurant that's surviving because people are okay with mediocre at a low price. Either way, that's business. I don't believe the entire restaurant sector would end if a proper min wage was introduced, you'd just weed out the mediocre and some service staff there would be picked up by ones that thrive with less competition in their area. There would be job loss, but I don't think as Armageddon'ish as pro tippers make it out to be.
Load More Replies... Anne S. 2 years ago
I've worked lines and Bqt in several states. Never heard of wait staff having to tip the BOH. I was given a few dollars here and there when it was crazy busy and did something really special for a guest. (They tipped the waiter very well.) I have never seen or heard of any restaurant, hotel, etc force wait staff to tip out to line cooks. If I were you, I would call the labor department and tell them what's going on. Then, I would call the board of health. I'm sure you've seen plenty to report them on...food not being at least 6in off ground, no date or label on items, no rotation. You get the idea.
Roddfergg 2 years ago
I actually don't know a state where it isn't illegal to require tipped employees to tip out wage employees.
Load More Replies... Eileen Hetherington 2 years ago
Illegal. The management wants you and the other servers to pay the cook's wages.It is illegal to be forced to tip other employees. Also, cutting people's hours in restaurants is not always about getting rid of them. They do this for a variety of reasons. However, a server needs at least 30-35 hours at an mid-range place to make any decent money. Work somewhere else. Management sucks here.
Caryn Zent 2 years ago
Ridiculous. Cooks are not paid based on getting tips like wait staff are.
Stephanie 2 years ago
Yeah something is really wrong here. Many years ago when I was a server I was expected to tip out 10% to the bussers (which they pooled). A flat amount is a problem because the restaurant is required to report 8% of sales to the IRS as minimum taxable tips. She's not just losing money, she's paying taxes on that lost money. Restaurants are always looking for experienced servers - time to move on.
Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
It's sad that they even have to rely on tips to add up to what their boss pays to get by .... Their boss should start with a decent wage to begin with, without all those waiters and waitresses there would be not one serving food and taking cr@p from customers.
Roddfergg 2 years ago
Back in the 90's I made $2-300 most nights waiting tables and bartendeling. So minimum, compared to $30-60 an hour? In fact I made more as a server than an owner. Good waiters make bank.
Load More Replies... MurderMittens 2 years ago
I've had to tip bartenders, cooks, busboys, but it was a percentage.
Rasheeda Pennybaker 2 years ago
I remember when my godbrother's Christening. We all went to Golden Coral. We had planned and told the restaurant a week ahead. The young male that came in to work our party was really sweet. The manager was trying to get at least 2 workers but nobody would come in and do it. It was a party of about a little over 20 people. This young man was actually off because his grandma passed away. But he didnt want us not to have anyone to wait on us. We felt so honor for him we decided to make sure he left with more than $100 in tips. My uncle We call him Mr. Money man he respects young males that takes their jobs seriously and have connections with so many people plus has his own restaurant in a different city than where we lived. He was chatting with the young man who was 16 saving up for a car. He gave him $50 in tips and a business card of one of his best friends that has a real nice car lot. He called him and gave him the kids number. I believe he left there with $200 in tips. This was 16
Rasheeda Pennybaker 2 years ago
Years ago. I love hardworkers. His manager was very please and told us we can have all the parties we want. We also made sure it wasn't a mess you know how kids can be? I believe no matter where you are treat it like it's your home. I picks up after my kids no matter where we are.
Load More Replies...
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