Lillie addresses the camera at the beginning of her video, stating: “Eating out is a privilege, not a right. If you cannot afford to tip 20%, you can’t afford to eat out.”
The TikToker goes into the ongoing conversation surrounding servers’ wages in the United States. While some argue that servers should receive their salaries differently, Lillie explains that this isn’t the reality for her or the over 1.6 million servers across the nation.
“You can complain and insist that my employer should pay me a higher wage all you want, but this is America, and that’s not the case, okay?” she explains. “I receive $3.63 from the restaurant I work at. My income, my wage, is derived from tips.”
Lillie further adds that restaurant menu prices are intentionally kept lower, allowing for customers to provide tips. “The food is priced lower because you are expected to leave a tip on it,” she says. “If you cannot afford to tip, then you don’t deserve to dine out.”
She compares the situation to hiring a nanny. “It’s the same thing with a nanny. If you can’t afford to pay someone a full salary, you don’t deserve a nanny,” she says. Lillie finishes off by declaring that if you cannot tip, then “you literally don’t deserve to dine out,” suggesting customers opt for takeout or visit fast-food places instead. Wowzer!
In the video’s caption, Lillie further expresses her frustration: “And to anyone who says we should be getting paid a higher hourly… Okay??? BUT WE AREN’T. Not tipping will only make your dining experience WORSE!!!!”
Following Lillie’s video, numerous people took to the comments section to give their own perspectives. One person, while acknowledging they consistently tip when dining out, took issue with the way Lillie presented her message.
“I always tip, but the entitlement is just wild, like, find a different job that doesn’t require you to run around and pays you well hourly,” they commented.
Another user agreed, suggesting that if the job’s pay is insufficient, a person should seek alternative employment. “If you can’t live off your job pay, find another job. This is ridiculous,” they said.
Of course, there were users who were in agreeance with Lillie’s message. One person shared their own experience, saying: “LITERALLY… I make $2.13 an hour, and we literally don’t receive paychecks at all.” Another user chimed in, exclaiming: “SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK.”
One user offered a suggestion: “Go off, girl. If someone doesn’t tip because they believe the employer should pay fair wages, then they should only support businesses that do so.”
There was also someone who wrote about their commitment to tipping but disagreed with Lillie’s comment that a 20% tip is mandatory, even when the service is below average. “I tip based on service,” they said. “I always tip 20% or more unless the service was exceptionally bad.”
