The practice of tipping servers in American restaurants is a fundamental aspect of the culture, although there is ongoing debate about the appropriate amount to give.

While some argue that employers should pay their staff a fair wage without relying on tips, the reality is that many servers depend on tips to make a living.

Despite this issue, it is generally accepted that leaving a gratuity for waitstaff is a customary and expected practice.

It is generally acknowledged that most servers deserve the tips they receive for the hard work and effort they put into ensuring customer satisfaction in the vast majority of cases. Many people believe that any additional money earned through tips should belong to the server as a matter of law.

There are rumors that a waitress at Oven & Tap in Arkansas was terminated from her job after receiving a substantial tip from a table she was serving. In 2021, Ryan Brandt was left speechless when a group of business executives gave her a $4,400 tip.

However, her elation was short-lived as she was reportedly let go from her position at the restaurant shortly after.

Rebecca Soto, one of the executives at the table in question, shared a video on Instagram capturing the moment when Ryan Brandt received the substantial tip in recognition of her service.

In the caption of the heartwarming video, Soto expressed her gratitude for being a part of such a beautiful and generous act of kindness.

She further stated that since she had been fortunate in life, being able to bless someone else without even knowing them was an amazing feeling.

Soto concluded by sending her blessings to everyone who contributed to the tip and the servers who received it, expressing hope that the generosity would spread and positively impact their lives.

In the video, Grant Wise, the host of the show, is shown handing the bundle of cash to Ryan Brandt and informing her that everyone at the table had contributed $100 as a tip for her and another waitress who had to leave early due to illness.

After the generous tip was initially given, it was shared on social media and additional donations were sent in. The total amount of the tip was then raised to $4,400, to be split between Ryan Brandt and the other waitress who had helped serve the table.

Overcome with emotion, Ryan expressed her gratitude to Grant and the table for their kindness.

However, Ryan later discovered that she was expected to turn over the cash to her shift manager and only keep 20% of the tip.

She had worked at Oven & Tap for more than three years and had never been instructed to give her tips to a manager before. Ryan’s elation over the generous tip was dampened by the unexpected news.

Upon learning of the situation, Grant Wise demanded that the money be returned to him so that he could ensure that it was given to Ryan and the other waitress as intended. He then personally gave the money to Ryan outside the restaurant to ensure that it reached its intended recipients.

However, upon her return to work, Ryan was informed that she was no longer employed because she had accepted the payment. She described the experience as devastating, as she had accumulated significant student loan debt and was struggling financially due to the pandemic.

In response to the situation, Grant Wise and his colleagues set up a GoFundMe page for Ryan, which quickly raised $8,700 to help her during this difficult time.

Oven & Tap also released a statement regarding the incident, stating that they had honored the request from Grant Wise’s table to give the tip money to Ryan and the other waitress. The restaurant explained that a large group of customers had specifically requested that their tips go to these two servers after their meal.