An Applebee's Diner Refused To Leave A Tip For Religious Reasons

[eagle_eye222001]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/01/fired-applebees-waitress-needs-tips

 

 

 

 

 

Tips are not optional, they are how waiters get paid in America

An Applebee's diner refused to leave a tip for religious reasons. The waitress who exposed it wonders if Jesus will pay her bills

 

A customer at an Applebee's restaurant in St. Louis left no tip and a note saying, "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?"

I was a waitress at Applebee's restaurant in Saint Louis. I was fired Wednesday for posting a picture on Reddit.com of a note a customer left on a bill. I posted it on the web as a light-hearted joke.

This didn't even happen at my table. The note was left for another server, who allowed me to take a picture of it at the end of the night.

 

I assumed the customer's signature was illegible, but I quickly started receiving messages containing Facebook profile links and websites, asking me to confirm the identity of the customer. I refused to confirm any of them, and all were incorrect.

Someone had scribbled on the receipt, "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?"

 

I worked with the Reddit moderators to remove any personal information. I wanted to protect the identity of both my fellow server and the customer. I had no intention of starting a witch-hunt or hurting anyone.

Now I've been fired.

 

The person who wrote the note came across an article about it, called the Applebee's location, and demanded everyone be fired -- me, the server who allowed me to take the picture, the manager on duty at the time, the manager not on duty at the time, everyone. It seems I was fired not because Applebee's was represented poorly, not because I did anything illegal or against company policy, but because I embarrassed this person.

 

In light of the situation, I would like to make a statement on behalf of wait staff everywhere: We make $3.50 an hour. Most of my paychecks are less than pocket change because I have to pay taxes on the tips I make.

After sharing my tips with hosts, bussers, and bartenders, I make less than $9 an hour on average, before taxes. I am expected to skip bathroom breaks if we are busy. I go hungry all day if I have several busy tables to work. I am expected to work until 1:30am and then come in again at 10:30am to open the restaurant.

 

I have worked 12-hour double shifts without a chance to even sit down. I am expected to portray a canned personality that has been found to be least offensive to the greatest amount of people. And I am expected to do all of this, every day, and receive change, or even nothing, in return. After all that, I can be fired for "embarrassing" someone, who directly insults his or her server on religious grounds.

 

In this economy, $3.50 an hour doesn't cut it. I can't pay half my bills. Like many, I would love to see a reasonable, non-tip-dependent wage system for service workers like they have in other countries. But the system being flawed is not an excuse for not paying for services rendered.

 

I need tips to pay my bills. All waiters do. We spend an hour or more of our time befriending you, making you laugh, getting to know you, and making your dining experience the best it can be. We work hard. We care. We deserve to be paid for that.

I posted a picture to make people laugh, but now I want to make a serious point: Things like this happen to servers all the time. People seem to think that the easiest way to save money on a night out is to skip the tip.

 

I am trying to stand up for all of us who work for just a few dollars an hour at places like Applebee's. Whether a chain steakhouse or a black-tie establishment, tipping is not optional. It is how we get paid.

 

I can't understand why I was fired over this. I was well liked and respected at Applebee's. My sales were high, my managers had no problems with me, and I was even hoping to move up to management soon. When I posted this, I didn't represent Applebee's in a bad light. In fact, I didn't represent them at all.

 

I did my best to protect the identity of all parties involved. I didn't break any specific guidelines in the company handbook – I checked. But because this person got embarrassed that their selfishness was made public, Applebee's has made it clear that they would rather lose a dedicated employee than an angry customer. That's a policy I can't understand.

 

I am equally baffled about how a religious tithe is in any way related to paying for services at a restaurant. I can understand why someone could be upset with an automatic gratuity. However, it's a plainly stated Applebee's policy that a tip is added automatically for parties over eight like the one this customer was part of. I cannot control that kind of tip; it's done by the computer that the orders are put into. I've been stiffed on tips before, but this is the first time I've seen the "Big Man" used as reasoning.

 

Obviously the person who wrote this note wanted it seen by someone. It's strange that now that the audience is wider than just the server, the person is ashamed.

 

I have no agenda here. I seek no revenge against the note writer. I have no interest in exposing their identity, and, at this point, I'm not even sure I want my job back. I was just trying to make a joke, but I came home unemployed.

I've been waiting tables to save up some money so I could finally go to college, so I could get an education that would qualify me for a job that doesn't force me to sell my personality for pocket change.

 

While this story has garnered immense media attention, my story is not uncommon. Bad tips and harsh notes are all part of the job. People get fired to keep customers happy every day.

 

As this story has gotten popular, I've received inquiries as to where people can send money to support me. As a broke kid trying to get into college, it's certainly appealing, but I'd really rather you make a difference to your next server. I'd rather you keep that money and that generosity for the next time you eat out.

 

Editor's note: Chelsea added the final two paragraphs at 2:30pm EST on Friday.

 

Edit: for formatting

 

Edited February 3, 2013 by eagle_eye222001

[Lil Red]

to counter that, I give you this:

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=157784631037954&set=pb.100237920125959.-2207520000.1359917641&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-prn1%2F150652_157784631037954_2122572312_n.jpg&size=845%2C720

Edited February 3, 2013 by Lil Red

[Basilisa Marie]

Yeah, but it's different.  The first one was a party of 20 that did individual checks, but because they were a bigger party than 8 there's a mandatory 18% gratuity charged. They didn't pay the tip that was mandated by company policy, and the jerkface signed it as "Pastor" so and so.  The Pastor called and wanted everyone involved to get fired because she got embarrassed by people finding out she used her position as a religious leader to be a jerkface.  

 

We expect random people to be jerks to religious people.  We don't expect religious leaders to be jerks to their servers. 

[iheartjp2]

I'm glad that note-writer feels ashamed. She should. 

[Lil Red]

Yeah, but it's different.  The first one was a party of 20 that did individual checks, but because they were a bigger party than 8 there's a mandatory 18% gratuity charged. They didn't pay the tip that was mandated by company policy, and the jerkface signed it as "Pastor" so and so.  The Pastor called and wanted everyone involved to get fired because she got embarrassed by people finding out she used her position as a religious leader to be a jerkface.  

 

We expect random people to be jerks to religious people.  We don't expect religious leaders to be jerks to their servers. 

 

I don't pay the automatic gratuity when I'm out with a group. it gets crossed out and we calculate our own (which is usually higher than the automatic gratuity anyway, unless they were a crappy service).

[Gabriela]

I worked at Denny's when I was in college. Some jerk regularly came in and gave no tip, always writing on the check instead, "Great shall be your reward in Heaven."

 

That server's post touched on so many labor issues we need to resolve...

[Groo the Wanderer]

I worked at Denny's when I was in college. Some jerk regularly came in and gave no tip, always writing on the check instead, "Great shall be your reward in Heaven."

 

That server's post touched on so many labor issues we need to resolve...

 

 

like what?  more mandatory government intrusion into our business?  we gonna make it hate crime to be a jerkface?

 

all will be resolved in the end.  in the meantime, rejoice when you are persecuted and pray for jerkfaces

[Gabriela]

like what?  more mandatory government intrusion into our business?  we gonna make it hate crime to be a jerkface?

 

all will be resolved in the end.  in the meantime, rejoice when you are persecuted and pray for jerkfaces

 

I thought it was well known that I'm not for government intervention generally. There are minimum wage laws that permit waitstaff wages to be lower than the national minimum. Abolish the laws and let the market correct itself.

 

Obviously it's not a hate crime to be a jerk to waitstaff. Geez, Groo. Sensitive much?

[4588686]

I thought it was well known that I'm not for government intervention generally. There are minimum wage laws that permit waitstaff wages to be lower than the national minimum. Abolish the laws and let the market correct itself.

 

 

Right.  Because in this current labor market that will definitely lead to an increase in wages.  

Edited February 3, 2013 by Hasan

[4588686]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/applebees-waitress-fired-pastor-receipt-193820748.html

 

 

So the waitress was fired. 

 

 

"I had no intention of starting a witch hunt or hurting anyone. I just wanted to share a picture I found interesting," she said. “I come home exhausted, sore, burnt, dirty and blistered on a good day. And after all that, I can be fired for ‘embarrassing’ someone who directly insults their server on religious grounds.”

 

God bless the all mighty free market, from whom all good comes.  

Edited February 3, 2013 by Hasan

[BG45]

Yeah and the pastor has been receiving death threats. 

 

 

[iheartjp2]

Yeah and the pastor has been receiving death threats. 

 

...and....?

[BigJon16]

[eagle_eye222001]

The real problem is people who feel entitled and don't respect the art of tipping.

Our society ran off a cliff.  And one of the things that got forgotten (or at least is no longer widely respected) was properly paying people for their services.

 

This is also a reflection on the idiocy of business managers who worship the almighty jerky customer and stone the loyal worker for imagery that is not necessary.

 

That server should be given a raise.  She was making a cultural point and even followed the company rules as she looked them up and even went to some lengths to hide the ID of the customer.

 

Unfortunately, many managers think they have to worship diversity, and always listen to the customer........blah-blah.   I have worked in the restaurant business for 3 years.  There are customers out there who know how to complain to get free food......and many people  :shutup:  the server so they can save money.

 

 

 

And Applebees has fed Hitler again like I saw happen at the restaurant I worked at.  Appease the customer at any cost!

Edited February 3, 2013 by eagle_eye222001

[iheartjp2]

The real problem is people who feel entitled and don't respect the art of tipping.

Our society ran off a cliff.  And one of the things that got forgotten (or at least is no longer widely respected) was properly paying people for their services.

 

This is also a reflection on the idiocy of business managers who worship the almighty jerky customer and stone the loyal worker for imagery that is not necessary.

 

That server should be given a raise.  She was making a cultural point and even followed the company rules as she looked them up and even went to some lengths to hide the ID of the customer.

 

Unfortunately, many managers think they have to worship diversity, and always listen to the customer........blah-blah.   I have worked in the restaurant business for 3 years.  There are customers out there who know how to complain to get free food......and many people  :shutup:  the server so they can save money.

 

 

 

And Applebees has fed Hitler again like I saw happen at the restaurant I worked at.  Appease the customer at any cost!

 

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