Restaurant Owner Criticized For ‘Rant’ About Customers Not Tipping Servers Who Make $3 An Hour

Aug 15, 2022 by apost team

For some jobs, people are expected to leave a tip for the worker. This is typically done for occupations in the service industry or artistic worlds, such as a hairdresser, artist, delivery driver, waitress and so on. The workers in these fields usually don’t make much money and therefore rely on these tips to help them get by and to pay their everyday needs along with all of their bills.

This system certainly has its flaws, though, as not everyone believes in tipping generously — or at all. On top of that, many employers believe that since their employees are receiving tips, they can afford not to raise their wages, no matter how much the worker deserves it.

The r/antiwork forum on Reddit is full of stories like this, and one from Aug. 1, 2022, has gone viral for the sheer hypocrisy of the employer’s mindset. A screenshot of a social media post from the Fireside Grille restaurant in Tennessee was captured and uploaded to the Reddit forum, showing how one employer was frustrated with the lack of customers that believed in tipping the restaurant’s servers.

However, many Reddit users were quick to point out that the employer was bragging about how much — or rather, in this case, how little — the waitresses were being paid. They found it unfair that the employer relied on the restaurant’s customers to pay the servers’ wages rather than giving them the raise that they deserved. Other users pointed out how the restaurant owner also appeared to not really respect their employees despite the sense of community they seemingly tried to create.

According to NPR, many people have questioned what the best method for paying servers is. Many restaurants pay below minimum wage and therefore rely on customers to tip their employees to make up the difference. Some people believe that an increase in wages could result in fewer hours for employees as restaurants typically have “very, very small margins.” On the other hand, servers pointed out how much of their own lives they miss out on to come to work and still don’t receive the compensation they deserve.

In a screenshot shared to the r/antiwork forum on Reddit on Aug. 1, 2022, a restaurant employer expressed frustration that customers weren’t tipping their servers enough or at all. The Reddit user who uploaded the picture said, “Restaurant that prides itself on $3/hr pay demands customers give better tips."

The employer wrote:

“We at Fireside (Grille) understand that times are a little tight right now for a lot of people… our serving staff included. Our girls make $3/hr (State of Tennessee wage is $2.17/hr.) They work hard and they run their legs off for people.”

According to Minimumwage.org, the minimum wage in the state of Tennessee is $7.25. However, there are some exceptions to this when it comes to particular workers, such as student workers and tipped employees.

The restauranter continued:

“Why is it that people have the audacity to not tip them? I know (you’re) getting good service… maybe you should consider not going out if you can’t take care (TIP) of the person taking care of you. THEY DEPEND ON TIPS FOR THEIR PAY!!”

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Adding on, the restauranter explained that workers in the service industry need to make money just like everyone else as they also have bills to pay and families to take care of. “STOP BEING SO STINGY,” the person said. “TIP YOUR SERVERS AND BARTENDERS!! THEY WORK HARD FOR YOU! Rant over….”

Many Reddit users were floored at the owner for demanding customers make up the difference for their evident low wages. One Redditor summed it up best, commenting, “The irony is overwhelming.” Another user added, “Tennessee state minimum is $2.17, I’m paying almost 30% more than I have to, go me.”

Several users found it very wrong for the restaurant to be upset that people weren’t paying the servers enough since the owner could easily just raise their wages. “Why don’t you pay a living wage instead????” one person asked. Another user said, “You just know this rant came out because customers weren’t tipping enough for employees to make the actual minimum wage and they had to pay the difference.”

Others pointed out how strange it was that the owner seemed to be trying to showcase a sense of community or family within the restaurant by referring to the waitresses as “girls,” but that it was ultimately borderline offensive. One Reddit user said, “Maybe pay ‘our girls’ a living wage and they don’t have to rely on the kindness of strangers to survive….” Another added, “Makes me wonder what they pay their ‘boys’... or if they don’t infantilize them…”

While it’s understandable that this restaurant owner wanted customers to tip the employees for their hard work, the message seemed to be misconstrued and ultimately sparked a very different and very important conversation.

Do you think the internet was right to criticize this restaurant owner? Have you ever worked in the service industry? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends.