Entering the restaurant industry as a server comes with its own set of challenges. If you decide to become a waiter or waitress, it’s important to understand that the job can be physically demanding and mentally exhausting. Servers often face long hours on their feet, attending to multiple tables at once. In addition to the physical toll, servers frequently deal with difficult and sometimes disrespectful customers, which adds emotional stress to the job.
However, one of the most significant issues facing servers in the U.S. is the low pay. Unlike most workers, servers are allowed to be paid less than the federal minimum wage because they are expected to earn tips. In fact, in 21 states, servers are paid as little as $2.13 per hour before tips. This policy makes servers rely heavily on tips to make a living, but the unpredictability of tips means their income can be highly unstable. According to a report from *The Wall Street Journal*, nearly 15% of the 2.4 million waiters and waitresses in the U.S. live in poverty. This rate is significantly higher than the 7% poverty rate for the general workforce. Furthermore, many servers are more likely to depend on public assistance and often do not have access to paid sick leave or health benefits, adding to their financial burden.
The reliance on tips can also be challenging because some customers refuse to tip, even when it is expected. This was the case for a waitress named Taylar Cordova, who gained attention when she posted a bill online after a customer left her no tip. The bill was for $187.43, and Cordova received no tip at all. Had she been given a standard 15% tip, she would have earned an additional $28.11. Her frustration over this situation was shared widely on social media, with her post being shared over 12,000 times.
In the post, Cordova expressed her deep frustration, writing, “This. This is the reason I work so much. This is why I cry in the shower. I STRUGGLE to put clothes on my daughter’s back and food in our bellies because of THIS. You are the lowest of the low. Whenever you feel like it’s probably fine to not tip your server, that’s one more bill stacking up because they’re short on money. This is food for the week that our families will go without because you didn’t think it was necessary, even after asking for everything under the sun and receiving it free of charge, mind you. This is one less basic necessity my daughter needs because even TWO more dollars is too much for you.”
Cordova’s post highlights how every decision has a consequence. Servers are paid between $2 and $5 an hour, depending on their employer. She urged people to consider how hard it would be to live on such low wages. “Next time you don’t want to tip, regardless of the situation prior to receiving your bill, think about how much you would have to work that week off $2-5/hr to feed your family, not just you. Could you pay your bills based on that pay alone? Could you feed your family AND yourself?” she asked.
Despite these struggles, there is hope for the future. According to *Eater*, several states, including New York, have either raised or eliminated the lower tipped minimum wage, with more states expected to follow this trend. This change is vital, as the National Restaurant Association predicts that by the end of the year, 12.9 million people will be employed in the restaurant industry, accounting for 10% of the U.S. workforce.
This article was first published on May 16, 2017, and it serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by servers. Be sure to share this article with your friends and family, so they understand the importance of tipping and treating service workers with respect.
