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US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

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Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#11

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…

While I wholeheartedly agree that the actions of the customer are absurd, I would like to point out that in the US, courts have held that a tip is not "mandatory."

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#12
post #8

Maybe people should be more careful about what to post online, especially things that could reveal personal identities without the person's permission. In this case the customer's signature is partially visible, which is not only considered personal but can potentially also be forged to sign for credit card receipts and legal documents. Sure the life of a waitress is not easy but from the perspective of the restauran…

the customer's signature is partially visible

You're kidding, right? How could anyone possibly get any identifying information from a few squiggles at the edge of a photo--much less enough to perpetrate identity theft?

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#13
post #5

I think it became a problem because only Mormons paid tithe, and it became a charged comment.

Mormons are the best known example of it, but many Baptist, Pentecostal and Brethren churches do the same thing. In all of those cases, where it happens, I believe that 10% is the standard figure.

Most Protestant denominations I'm familiar with encourage tithing, all at 10%.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#14
post #9

[deleted]

I've always thought that the idea of a gratuity as a requirement is just a scapegoat for employers not wanting to pay their employees for the effort they put in.

I've never understood why I have to tip a waiter, a pizza delivery guy, or a grocery bagger, but not the guy that changes my oil.

When I lived in Mexico, grocery stores had bag boys and they were all under 12 years old. Those kids weren't employed by the store, they were allowed to work there for tips only. That's the only pay they received. I always tipped those boys well, but it shows how the gratuity can be abused.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#15

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…

While I wholeheartedly agree that the actions of the customer are absurd, I would like to point out that in the US, courts have held that a tip is not "mandatory."

Nobody's arguing this on legal grounds. Even if it's technically okay to leave without tipping, it's a shitty thing to do.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#16

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…

While I wholeheartedly agree that the actions of the customer are absurd, I would like to point out that in the US, courts have held that a tip is not "mandatory."

Restraunts should just charge the amount that is needed to pay their waitstaff properly, instead of relying on a tip and make their prices look cheaper! A tip is supposed to be extra money given the the waitstaff for services above and beyond the call of duty.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#17

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…

The 18% tip was already billed to the customer, so they ended up paying the automatic 18% tip (even though they crossed it out) in addition to a $6 cash tip they left on the table. The receipt was for about $40, if I recall correctly.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#18

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…

What in the hell is a mandatory tip?

I don't know how wait staff came to be so ungrateful and self-entitled. But please, if it's such a chore, I will walk the 10 feet to pick up my plate.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#19

I think it became a problem because only Mormons paid tithe, and it became a charged comment.

Mormons are only unique in this respect in just how seriously they take tithing and the lengths that they go to in order to ensure that it is being done properly. In most other Christian-based religions tithing is a more personal matter.

Re: US waitress was fired for posting a picture of a tip receipt on Reddit

#20
The waitress's own accounting of the incident is exceptionally self serving and false. The signature as originally posted was quite legible. Her original accounting of the incident was completely fabricated because she didn't actually serve the table, though she represented herself as if she did.

For example, the customer's name, Alois, is a man's name, but the customer was actually a female with a male's first name. The waitress asserted that the customer was a man. When she later found out she was wrong she backpeddled and claimed she knew that but that she was protecting the customer's identity. However she publicly posted the customer's name and location, enabling people to track down the customer and begin threatening her.

Another detail she got wrong was claiming the customer left no tip. The customer left the tip as cash on the table, as most people in the US do, and something that most servers prefer, rather than pay it as part of the bill. The restaurant also though double charged the customer for the tip, meaning the customer ended up paying 36% rather than 18% on the bill as tip. Because the waitress had not served the table she assumed that the strike out of the tip line meant the customer left no tip at all.

In short, the waitress violated a customer's privacy, lied about the customer publicly defaming her, publicly ridiculed her religious beliefs, and instigated an internet mob riot against the customer which continues to this day in the form of threats and harassment and has caused the customer severe mental anguish. If I was an attorney in the area I would be preparing a large lawsuit against the restaurant at this time, and I would certainly prevail in court.

Her firing was completely justified and her complaining about being fired in the media and claiming herself as victim when she was the bully is absolutely outrageous.

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