Waitress fired for posting snarky customer comment online
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The note at the top of the restaurant receipt read simply, "I give God 10%, why do you get 18?"
The snarky comment has created a furor online after a waitress posted it on the website Reddit. She has been fired, while the customer who scribbled the note has been vilified. And the controversy has forced the president of the restaurant chain to explain its privacy policies.
It began Jan. 25 when a customer who described herself on the receipt as a pastor shared appetizers with eight or nine friends at an Applebee's in south St. Louis. Applebee's spokesman Dan Smith said Friday that the group was large enough that an automatic 18 percent tip was added to the bill.
The full cost for the table was $34.93, including the tip, which Smith said the customer paid despite the comment.
If the waitress for the table was bothered, she didn't show it. But another waitress took a picture of the receipt and posted it Tuesday on Reddit, adding her own response: "I'm sure Jesus will pay for my rent and groceries."
Missouri's minimum wage is $7.35 per hour, a dime more than the federal standard. For employees like waitresses, bartenders and pizza delivery drivers who receive tips, the state minimum wage is $3.63, though employers must make up the difference for those who do not earn the state minimum in any given hour.
By Wednesday, the posting went viral. The customer who wrote on the receipt was hearing about it. She contacted the restaurant. The waitress was fired.
Applebee's President Mike Archer said in a phone interview Friday that the company stands behind its workers. But he said there was no choice but to fire the waitress for violating the customer's privacy rights and the company's social media policy.
"We have to protect our guests' privacy," Archer said. "There's a lot of private information on those receipts."
The backlash persists. Thousands have posted critical comments about the customer on Reddit, Facebook and at the bottom of news accounts. Applebee caught heat for firing the waitress and at least two Facebook pages were set up in support of her.
Kansas City, Mo.-based Applebee's has roughly 2,000 restaurants in every state except Hawaii and 15 other countries. Archer himself once worked as a waiter and understands how difficult the job can be.
But he said violation of a customer's privacy simply cannot be tolerated.
"It's not favoring the guest over the employee," Archer said. "It's really a simple rule that we have that was violated."
The waitress did not have a listed phone number. Messages sent to her through Reddit were not returned. The customer did not return phone and Facebook messages seeking comment.
The snarky comment has created a furor online after a waitress posted it on the website Reddit. She has been fired, while the customer who scribbled the note has been vilified. And the controversy has forced the president of the restaurant chain to explain its privacy policies.
It began Jan. 25 when a customer who described herself on the receipt as a pastor shared appetizers with eight or nine friends at an Applebee's in south St. Louis. Applebee's spokesman Dan Smith said Friday that the group was large enough that an automatic 18 percent tip was added to the bill.
The full cost for the table was $34.93, including the tip, which Smith said the customer paid despite the comment.
If the waitress for the table was bothered, she didn't show it. But another waitress took a picture of the receipt and posted it Tuesday on Reddit, adding her own response: "I'm sure Jesus will pay for my rent and groceries."
Missouri's minimum wage is $7.35 per hour, a dime more than the federal standard. For employees like waitresses, bartenders and pizza delivery drivers who receive tips, the state minimum wage is $3.63, though employers must make up the difference for those who do not earn the state minimum in any given hour.
By Wednesday, the posting went viral. The customer who wrote on the receipt was hearing about it. She contacted the restaurant. The waitress was fired.
Applebee's President Mike Archer said in a phone interview Friday that the company stands behind its workers. But he said there was no choice but to fire the waitress for violating the customer's privacy rights and the company's social media policy.
"We have to protect our guests' privacy," Archer said. "There's a lot of private information on those receipts."
The backlash persists. Thousands have posted critical comments about the customer on Reddit, Facebook and at the bottom of news accounts. Applebee caught heat for firing the waitress and at least two Facebook pages were set up in support of her.
Kansas City, Mo.-based Applebee's has roughly 2,000 restaurants in every state except Hawaii and 15 other countries. Archer himself once worked as a waiter and understands how difficult the job can be.
But he said violation of a customer's privacy simply cannot be tolerated.
"It's not favoring the guest over the employee," Archer said. "It's really a simple rule that we have that was violated."
The waitress did not have a listed phone number. Messages sent to her through Reddit were not returned. The customer did not return phone and Facebook messages seeking comment.
HMMMM First amendment rights? Â No names mentioned, right? Â I have to wonder about this...if a waitress only TALKED about it would this have been as bad as taking a picture and posting it? Â Would that have been protected?
I heard about this on the news, and people were laughing. Â Giving God 10% is what the bible says, but does this pastor duck taxes? Â Does she send the IRS such little quips? Â She, of all people, should know how difficult it can be to make a living on minimum or below minimum wage! Â I feel bad about the waitress but understand the company's move. All around a sad story for all involved.
BULL! the waitress that posted it said she looked at the employee handbook and it didnt mention anything about posting online. Applebees is making up the rules as they go along. BTW-- the "pastor" is hte founder of her own church so her "tithe" to God is only to herlself!/ her business.. its not even in a "church." but a rented storefront.  Â
 here is the story site  http://gawker.com/5980558/pastor-who-left-sanctimonious-tip-gets-waitress-fired-from-applebees-claims-her-reputation-was-ruined?fb_action_ids=10151417753125813&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210151417753125813%22%3A150330941791333%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210151417753125813%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=[]
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10%, he must have been Mormon
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 @RandyH Na that is pretty standard for many religions...at least that is what my extended family tells me I am not big on organized religion in general although many like the Mormons do a better job of helping people who need it then the government does.
@FreedomRocks @RandyHÂ The word "tithe" means tenth or 1/10th
 @FreedomRocks  @RandyH I think Islam is 5%. not 100% sure though.
Hey I just got off the phone with God and he said he never got the Pastor's check. When I pointed out that churches have been collecting money in his name for years, he got kind of upset and muttered something about tornadoes and the Bible Belt.
Applebees is downright YUCK....factory prepared food packed with preservatives and reheated. Â Y U C K
Plus, they hate taking care of their employees.
I can just picture Jesus stiffing a waitress.....
tip? Â for what?
Another good reason to avoid both Applebee's and religiosos.
Christian people are so christianly...NOT!!!!!!!!!!!
 @janeth503 Maybe they know they need to go to church to make up for their daily actions:)
I bet she will get a good job after this.
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$3.63 per hour is ridiculous, wow!
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The thing that is the most sad out of all of this, is that they microwave most of the food at applebee's, they don't prepare it in a kitchen! I knew a waitress who worked there and they just microwave steaks and stuff.
Hmmmm, if Pastor Cheapskate gives her 10% to God, and she's a pastor, where is the actual 10% going? I'm pretty certain that God doesn't have a bank account.
Iâm sure the waitress would have been happy with 10% of her earnings as a tip as opposed to 18% of the bill. I guess the only time a Pastor really needs to deal with numbers is when it falls between Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
I'm thinking when you leave note like this, regardless of the stationary, there is no expectation of "privacy."Â How stupid is this pastor to think Facebook, Twitter, etc, don't exist.Â
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Also, there doesn't seem to be an issue with service, just that the tip for large groups is built into the bill automatically. I get that. I personally disagree with the way servers are paid but it is the way it is.Â
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From a business standpoint, how long did the group of "eight or nine" occupy the table(s)? For $35 INCLUDING THE TIP????? How long did two other families of four (each of which would likely have a bill of $70) have to wait?  The good pastor is squabbling about $6 when she and her group likely cost this waitress 4 times that in tips.
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Actually I read that the Pastor" is a female and is black which means she is perpetuating the stereotype that black people don't tip.Having been in the business forever I can vouch that the stereotype is kinda true.Also as a general rule, Conservatives are cheaper than Liberals (they lack the spirit of liberality, of course), religious are cheaper than unreligious (they've already given to God, and the waitress doesn't matter as much as God), and women are cheaper than men.perhaps this is why Applebee's folded like a house of cards.Too bad we have to stoop so low for people no matter how rude and wrong they are.There have been many instances where I've drawn my line in the sand however.
@noneofyourbizzness " . . . Conservatives are cheaper than Liberals . . . religious are cheaper than unreligious . . ." I must be the exception to your rule, noneofyourbizness. I am conservative and very devout. I give God my tithes and offerings and base my tips on the service - and if the amount of the tip ends in an odd number (.26, .11, etc.) I round the number in the server's favor. I think the built-in gratuity is wrong. With a built-in gratuity, it's possible to reward a server who gives poor service.
@theprodigal Having been in the industry for three decades,I understand why most restaurants tack on a 18% gratuity.First of all tins awesome that owners care enough for their wait staff to ensure they don't get screwed over.Another reason is that servers are taxed on their tips,so if a part of 8 or more and they stiff the server,the server basically is paying money out of their pocket.As a manager I will take off the gratuity if the customers aren't happy with the service.One a side note,I've had Christian customers leave a five dollar tip and at closer inspectio,it's a bible tract issuing threats of eternal damnation.Sooo not cool.
@GeauxOSU Lots of restaurants have happy hour.In other words,super cheap food with a minimum drink purchase.Sometimes big groups of 21 year olds or cheap ass ghetto trash come in and it's like pulling teeth to get them to pay for a drink.Then they run up the bill to a couple hundred dollars and stiff the server after running their ass off for three hours.
 @noneofyourbizzness No worries, you're allowed ONE per day (bad grammer, that is) otherwise, we'll deduct 18% from your tip and call it a day! LOL
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BTW: Enjoyed your postings on this subject. Personally, I understand the "forced" gratuity, considering the number of times servers have been stiffed by customers, which resulted in this initiative which is now industry-wide.
Bad grammar today....
I also give God 10%... by throwing it into the air as high as I can...
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He must have enough because he keeps giving it back.
 @str1ngb3nd3r Or maybe he doesn't like change, cuz when I throw up my pennies and nickels to him, it all comes right back down?
What the waitress did was insignificant compared to the malign effort the pastor made to call and get the girl fired. So much for forgiveness, eh?
 @alohan Yeah, home girl needs to be reintroduced to the Bible.
What the hell don't be so cheap pay a good tip and be glad to do it. Give her back her 3 dollar and 63 cent job back.
Sounds like kind of a stupid thing to do... first, writing a comment like that on a receipt, and then the other person posting the receipt on-line... Â Â
Personally, I prefer NOT to frequent restaurants that automatically add tips to the bill... Â I am perfectly willing and able to add my own tip if I feel that one has been earned... Â (And, no; I'm not "cheap"; I've waited tables before...it's hard work, usually underpaid, and often thankless... )
 @margay1 I agree. I hate the idea of a forced gratuity since that kind of defeats the whole point of a gratuity in the first place, which is to reward excellent service.
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But the message on the receipt was stupid. She gives God 10% of her EARNINGS. She was not being asked for 18% of her earnings, just a percentage of the bill for a few appetizers.
http://www.wggb.com/2013/02/01/bank-of-america-online-mobile-banking-down/
Massive cyber attack from China targeting all US Banks going on now. And what are we doing reading about someone bad customer service issue and firing.
 @PappaSmurf I say we retaliate by not leaving tips at Chinese restaurants.
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Don't write stupid comments on a receipt and everything will be all good.