People are flooding to social media in heated debate after a bartender revealed how much she made from 70 hours of shifts.
A TikToker from Austin has revealed the shocking amount she was paid after working 70 hours as a bartender, telling followers her payslip is why everyone should ‘always’ tip their servers.
However, the video has caused an intense discussion online, not everyone in agreement with the mom. Prepare to feel grateful if you live in the UK:
In the video – posted in January 2020 – Cortez shows followers her breakdown, revealing she gets paid just $2.13 an hour without tips, and so has to pretty much solely rely on the generosity of customers if she’s going to take home enough to live off.
If she worked 70 hours for just over $2 per hour, in theory, that means the mom should’ve taken home around $140. However, wait until you hear about the total amount she received for working the hefty amount of shifts.
The video reveals that after 70.8 hours’ work, Cortez was paid a shocking $9.28 after federal taxes, social security and Medicare.
She resolves: “So this is why you should always tip your bartenders and servers, anyone who waits on you or provides a service for you.”
“Of course, I got tips, but this is what I got for my hourly,” Cortez adds. “This is why you tip.”
The mom hit out at the service industry and says she just wants to be ‘paid adequately and consistently’.
She told Buzzfeed: “There are laws set up that allow tipped employees to be paid under the federal minimum wage, which makes us rely on the customer to pay our wages.
“It’s not right that we have to do this, but I wanted to shed some light on the issue and inform the public about the importance of tipping.
“I just wish we were all being paid adequately and consistently. As you can see – by my check – I cannot afford to live off of $2.13 an hour, so I solely rely on the generosity of my customers.”
Viewers have been divided by her video, as one person commented: “This is why the US should be like EVERY other developed nation and not have a tip culture. Businesses should pay your wages. Tips shouldn’t be a thing.”
Another added: “Tips are optional always have been always will be. The whole iF YoU cAnT tIP dOnT EAt oUT thing is point less we pay our bill that’s it.”
“Blame the business not the customers keeping the business open,” a third thought.
However, others were a little more sympathetic, as one person thought: “No mam, your bar/restaurant is getting free labor and that’s not ok.”
A second added: “The people mad at this are the people who don’t tip lmao.”
“I don’t get why people go to restaurants and and can’t leave a decent tip like just go to a fast food place instead,” complained a third.