Server Sparks Debate After Showing How She Gets Payback At ‘Rude’ Tables
Many of us worked at a restaurant when we were younger in order to pay our way through post-secondary school. But for every wonderful restaurantgoer, there was an awful one who we wish we could accidentally spill a glass of icy water on.
But one woman on TikTok doesn't just imagine getting revenge, she seemingly goes through with it. Now, it's sparking a debate on tipping culture, including what's an appropriate amount to tip and whether large parties should be subjected to an automatic gratuity.
Remember Your Customer Service Days?
During our stints in customer service, many of us probably also learned that the phrase "the customer is always right" is almost always a load of malarkey.
In a now-viral TikTok, one server apparently thought the exact same thing, and whether you used to be a server or you've never worked in the restaurant industry, the divisive video has got people talking.
The TikTok
Kay, also known as @kaybaltazar on TikTok, recently posted the video which has since gone viral with nearly three million views and over 230,000 likes.
She captioned the video with, "I'm usually really nice and never add it but ppl are so mean lol I’m just tryna do my shift and go man."
Time For Payback
In the short video, Kay sits down at her restaurant and appears to be deep in thought contemplating something, which as we soon find out, is how to get payback against nightmarish customers.
The caption above her reads "when a large table is rude to you, runs you back and forth, and keeps asking for [stuff]."
Auto Gratuity
The video then transitions to a cut of Kay using the restaurant's point of sale computer. Under the category of "Update Service Charge" are a number of options, such as a service fee and a large party/auto gratuity charge.
Kay then selects the latter, which adds an automatic 20% charge to a table's bill. Without saying a word, she jokingly illustrates that this is how she gets revenge against terrible customers.
"It's Just A Joke Y'all"
In the comment section of her TikTok, Kay later explains that the video was actually meant to be a joke and that the restaurant's point of sale machines automatically charge gratuity to any large parties—regardless of how easy or difficult they were to serve.
"Of course everyone is entitled to their OWN opinion it's just a joke y'all."
The Tipping Debate
Even though Kay's TikTok video was a joke, it did spark a debate on tipping culture. While some countries have abolished the practice of tipping, such as Australia, others like the United States have not, and it's how many working-class people make ends meet.
With this in mind, it got people discussing the hardships of being a restaurant server and whether you support or despise tipping; valid points were raised on both sides.
Support Your Servers
On one hand of the debate were TikTok users who supported Kay, and that working a stressful and demanding job such as serving warrants a sizeable tip from customers.
Others said that if you can afford to eat out but not tip your server, you should stay at home instead. "If you've never served you can't say anything. Server, not servant," wrote one user.
Opposing Viewpoints
A number of users, however, didn't agree with Kay, and some said that just because she sometimes has a frustrating job doesn't mean she can charge an auto gratuity whenever she pleases. It's simply all part of the job.
Regardless of which side you're on, the debate around tipping doesn't seem to be going anyway anytime soon.
