Woman Claims She Earned Only One Cent For Six Weeks Of Waitressing

By maks in Community On 30th October 2024

A Nashville waitress sparked debate on TikTok after claiming she earned just $0.01 for six weeks of work, with users divided over tipping culture in the U.S.

A waitress recently posted her pay stub on TikTok, revealing she allegedly received only one cent for six weeks of work.

It’s no secret that in the U.S., servers depend heavily on tips to take home a decent amount after each shift.

But one TikToker’s paycheck over six weeks paints a stark picture of just how essential tips can be for their income.

If you thought the debate over tipping culture had simmered down, think again. It’s still very much a hot topic.

TikTok/ @lvndsmac

TikToker Liny from Nashville, posting under the handle @lvndsmac, shared a shocking example of her income as a waitress, claiming she was paid only one cent for six weeks of work.

“Life as a server… This is six weeks of ‘pay’,” she wrote. “TIP YOUR SERVERS!!!”

In her caption, she emphasized her point further: “THE F–K IMA DO WITH ONE PENNY STEVEN!!!!!!!”

In the video, originally shared in 2021, she zoomed in on her pay stub, which showed a payment of just $0.01.

Liny didn’t mention her employer’s name, nor did she reveal the total amount she might have earned in tips over that six-week period.

The post quickly went viral, garnering 1.9 million views and over 112,000 likes. Thousands of comments rolled in, with TikTok users debating her situation—many of whom weren’t exactly sympathetic.

Liny called on people to tip their serversTikTok/ @lvndsmac

“It’s not my job to pay your bills I got my own to pay,” one user commented bluntly. Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “I always tip, but restaurants need to pay you guys.”

Others chimed in with similar views: “Take it up with your employer. It’s not the customers responsibility to pay your wage.”

One user added, “Blame the business you’re working for, not the consumers. In other countries, they don’t need to tip because they pay a living wage. I’m already paying overpriced prices for mediocre food. I shouldn’t also have to pay out of my pocket for your salary.”

After one commenter suggested that she consider a ‘career change,’ Liny humorously replied: “Lmaoooo chill y’all. I just finished school give me a break.”

However, not everyone was critical. Some users sympathized with Liny’s situation, with one person writing, “Half the people in this comment section are the ones who get mad when restaurants are understaffed. Who’s gonna serve your food and take care of you when they all quit bc they don’t get paid what they should and some people feel too entitled to tip. Get your own job in the industry and see how it is.”

Another commenter added, “Do not eat out if you aren’t willing to tip. That simple.”

TikTok/ @lvndsmac

A third shared their perspective, saying, “Eating out is an experience. You’re not tipping your server for bringing out a plate, you’re tipping your server for top notch service.”

Watch on TikTok

Many others argued that her minimal pay could be attributed to the tips she was receiving, suggesting that the video didn’t necessarily show the whole picture—some claiming she hadn’t truly earned “just $0.01.”

One user, who said they had “easily made $4,400 a month being a server,” explained, “Don’t let these empty checks fool you if you’re serving and making so much that you don’t get an hourly [wage].”

Another user agreed, stating, “She got zero because she made more money in tips than what they pay her that’s how it goes, so her showing her checks saying to tip is misleading.”

A third added their thoughts, saying, “Correct me if I’m wrong but if your check looks like this it’s bc you’re getting more than enough tips.”

To this, Liny responded, “Absolutely and that’s not what people are understanding.”