Tipping culture is definitely still a huge issue for servers in the US. While, for other countries, tips are encouraged but not needed, they help servers, bartenders, and other service workers make a living wage. Though it definitely isn’t ideal, many servers rely heavily on tips, meaning that it’s important for restaurant and bar-goers to tip when they can.
Back in 2020, a TikToker named Aaliyah Cortez ( @f.aa.ded ) posted a viral vid showing the importance of tipping. The TikToker, who was working as a bartender at the time, showed just how little she made with her regular wage after deductions.
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The TikTok Is Less Than A Minute Long, But Gives A Lot Of Info.
In the video, Cortez shows parts of her paystub. She points out that, in a two-week period, she worked nearly 71 hours. Her hourly wage is $2.13, making her gross income $150.81 for that point in time. Cortez goes on to explain that she has several deductions that come out of her paycheck — the regular things such as income tax and social security. Her paycheck only ended up totaling $9.28.
“Of course, I got tips,” Cortez explains toward the end of the TikTok. “But this is what I got for my hourly. This is why you tip.”
Since the video was uploaded at the beginning of 2020, it’s been viewed nearly a million times. Thousands of people took to the comments to share their thoughts and experiences.
Many Commenters Were Outraged.
In certain states, it’s legal for restaurants and bars to offer low wages to employees, so long as their tips bring them up to a living wage. But for many commenters, this just reeks of asking for free labor.
Many commenters used Cortez’s TikTok as a reason why tipping culture in the United States needs a huge overhaul.
Other Commenters Condemned Those Who Don’t Tip.
Some commenters felt that people who have never worked in the service industry simply don’t understand what it’s like. Others believe that, if you can’t or don’t want to tip, you shouldn’t be eating out at restaurants.
Some Point Out How Cortez Made Over $700 In Tips That Pay Period.
However, Cortez responded to commenters stating that she was never complaining about the tips she got. But the reality is, there are many people who tip very little or don’t tip at all. In fact, the way her income is almost entirely tips is the reason why she made the TikTok.
In an interview with the Daily Mail , Cortez said, “I would like to see the system change who pays our wages. Obviously, it should be our employers, but until that can happen we still have to rely on the generosity of our customers.”
h/t delish
