A waitress has shared her experience of receiving just one cent for six weeks of work, highlighting her pay check on TikTok.
It’s clear that servers in the US often depend heavily on tips to make a decent income after each shift. A TikToker’s minuscule paycheck after six weeks underscores the importance of tipping.
If you thought the debate surrounding tipping culture was over, it continues to be a hot topic.
In a video posted on TikTok, Liny from Nashville, using the handle @lvndsmac, revealed that she earned just one cent for six weeks of work as a waitress.
“Life as a server… This is six weeks of ‘pay’,” she wrote. “TIP YOUR SERVERS!!!”
In the caption, she added: “THE F**K IMA DO WITH ONE PENNY STEVEN!!!!!!!”
The video, which originally appeared in 2021, shows a close-up of her recent payslip, indicating a total payment of $0.01.
Liny did not disclose her employer’s identity in the video, nor did she mention how much she earned in tips during that period.
The post garnered 1.9 million views and more than 112,000 likes, and it sparked thousands of comments from fellow TikTok users, some of whom were not very sympathetic.
“It’s not my job to pay your bills I got my own to pay,” one person commented bluntly. Another added: “I always tip, but restaurants need to pay you guys.”
Someone else agreed: “Take it up with your employer. It’s not the customers responsibility to pay your wage.”
Another user stated: “Blame the business you’re working for, not the consumers. In other countries, they don’t need to tip because they pay a living wage. I’m already paying overpriced prices for mediocre food. I shouldn’t also have to pay out of my pocket for your salary.”
When a commenter suggested a ‘career change’, Liny responded: “Lmaoooo chill y’all. I just finished school give me a break.”
Others showed empathy for Liny’s situation, with one person writing: “Half the people in this comment section are the ones who get mad when restaurants are understaffed. Who’s gonna serve your food and take care of you when they all quit bc they don’t get paid what they should and some people feel too entitled to tip. Get your own job in the industry and see how it is.”
Another commented: “Do not eat out if you aren’t willing to tip. That simple.”
A third added: “Eating out is an experience. You’re not tipping your server for bringing out a plate, you’re tipping your server for top notch service.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/7016726353974381829
Many also argued that her small pay was likely linked to the tips she received and that the video did not give the full story – with one person explaining she ‘didn’t make $0.01’.
One user claimed they had ‘easily made $4,400 a month being a server’, noting: “Don’t let these empty checks fool you if you’re serving and making so much that you don’t get an hourly [wage].”
Another agreed: “She got zero because she made more money in tips than what they pay her that’s how it goes, so her showing her checks saying to tip is misleading.”
A third commented: “Correct me if I’m wrong but if your check looks like this it’s bc you’re getting more than enough tips.”
Liny responded: “Absolutely and that’s not what people are understanding.”