Chanuka
Being a server in the restaurant industry is no easy feat. The pressure to perform well and provide exceptional customer service is often fueled by the expectation of earning tips. However, a recent TikTok video from a waitress named Deirdre has shed light on an unusual hack that has been helping her earn bigger tips: pretending to have children.
Deirdre works at a brunch spot in Los Angeles that is frequented by families with young children. One day, while dealing with a messy table, she told the customers that it was okay as she had little ones at home too. To her surprise, the customers left her a much bigger tip than usual. She continued to use the same tactic throughout the day, resulting in a substantial increase in her tips.
The fact that servers have to rely on tips to make a living is a symptom of a flawed system. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual wage for a waiter or waitress in 2021 was $29,010, which is considerably lower than the median income nationwide. This financial pressure often leads servers to resort to tactics such as Deirdre’s, which may be deemed as dishonest by some.
# I work as a server in Los Angeles, and today I found a really cool trick.
Moreover, the tipping system creates an unusual power dynamic in which servers work for customers rather than their employers. This can lead to behaviors that hurt the bottom line, such as giving free drinks to customers or providing preferential treatment to those who are more likely to leave a big tip. The problem is particularly pronounced for the six million women in America who work as tipped workers.
The tipping system also sets a low standard for acceptable workplace behavior, which can have long-term consequences. For many young women, the restaurant industry is their first job, and they learn what is acceptable in the workplace based on their experiences there. Saru Jayaraman, co-founder and co-director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center United (ROC United), notes that many women who have been sexually harassed in their corporate jobs find that their experiences in the restaurant industry were worse.
# And as we were conversing, they gave me such a generous gratuity. I continued doing that all day.
Deirdre’s tactic may be seen as unethical by some, but it is important to recognize that it is a result of a flawed system. As consumers, we can play a role in addressing this issue by advocating for fair wages for servers and supporting restaurants that have abolished tipping in favor of a fair wage model. It is time for the restaurant industry to evolve and provide a fair and just working environment for all its employees.
There was significant public interest in the matter, with many individuals expressing their opinions on the topic.
The topic received a significant amount of attention and generated a considerable amount of discussion from various individuals.
# And there was a lot of discussion about it.
# Though some people didn’t agree with the strategy
