Tipping in the United States has always been a hot topic of debate. While not everyone sees eye to eye on the practice, it remains a fundamental aspect of American restaurant culture. Growing up, I was taught to always tip my server. Many waiters and waitresses rely on tips as their main source of income. Yet, it’s unfortunate that employers are allowed to underpay their staff and shift the responsibility onto customers.
Regardless of your stance on tipping, it’s safe to say that most servers work tirelessly to ensure customer satisfaction. They deserve any extra money they receive as a token of appreciation. However, there are exceptions to this rule. In 2021, a waitress at the Oven & Tap in Arkansas experienced a rather unfortunate turn of events after receiving a substantial tip.
Ryan Brandt was elated when a table of business executives left her a whopping $4,400 tip. The generosity was captured on camera and shared on Instagram by one of the executives, Rebecca Soto. In the heartwarming video, Ryan can be seen in tears as she receives the cash. Little did she know that her joy would be short-lived.
After the video went viral, the restaurant, Oven & Tap, decided to fire Ryan. She was told to hand over the cash to her shift manager, with only 20% being allowed as her own. This policy came as a shock to Ryan, who had been an employee there for over three years and had never been instructed to surrender her tips before.
Upon learning about the situation, Grant Wise, the host of the evening, promptly intervened. He asked for the money back and personally returned it to Ryan outside the restaurant. However, when Ryan went back inside, she was devastated to discover that she had been fired for accepting the tip.
The situation took a turn for the better when Grant and his compassionate colleagues started a GoFundMe page for Ryan. In just a few days, the page raised over $8,700 to help her with her upcoming student loan payments.
Oven & Tap, in response to the incident, claimed that they respected the request made by Grant’s table to give the tips to Ryan and her colleague. They did not disclose further details regarding the termination of Ryan’s employment.
The story of Ryan getting fired for accepting a generous tip raises some serious concerns. It’s hard to ignore the fishy circumstances surrounding the restaurant’s actions. What are your thoughts on this matter? Let us know in the comments, along with your opinions on tipping culture as a whole. Share this article on Facebook to help others stay informed and engaged.
