Diners taunt New Jersey waitress with ‘LOL’ tip on $112 bill
These days, a 20 percent tip for your server is standard, 25 percent if you’re classy. But a tip of ‘LOL’ like one New Jersey waitress recently received? Well, that’s just rude.
These days, a 20 percent tip for your server is standard — 25 percent if you're classy. But a tip of 'LOL' like one New Jersey waitress recently received? Well, that's just rude.
Jessica Jones, 20, a Rutgers student, can tell you that after a table of eight people did so last week on a $112 bill at D'Jais Bar & Grill in Belmar where she works. Alongside the message, which is an acronym for "Laugh Out Loud," the diners also wrote "1 hour for food":
Jones posted about the incident on Facebook, saying that she was stunned by the message on the receipt, according to the Asbury Park Press. Additionally, Jones claims to have given acceptable service to the apparently disgruntled party.
"I would have preferred a '$0' tip than a 'LOL' tip, but as a waitress, bad tips and harsh notes are all part of the job," she wrote. "Even though they did wait an hour to eat, they remained satisfied with filled drinks and proper notice that the kitchen was a bit busier than normal. I've worked in the service industry for five years and I take pride in providing great service for my customers."
There is also the matter of lost money itself, with New Jersey's servers earning $2.50 an hour. Jersey's minimum for non-tipped jobs, meanwhile, stands at $8.38.
"Most of my paychecks are less than pocket change because I have to pay taxes on the tips I make," Jones wrote on Facebook. "I need tips to pay my bills. All waiters do."
Following its posting, Jones' message quickly reached Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, who similarly took to Facebook to address the incident.
"If you visit Belmar please treat the hardworking men and women in our service industry with the same respect you would expect at your job," he reportedly wrote. "This is ridiculous."
Unfortunately, as Jones noted on Facebook, the treatment she received is not entirely uncommon.
"My experience with this table was cruel and unnecessary but sadly it's not uncommon," she wrote. "I know how aggravating it is to receive a hefty bill when all night you've been wondering why the table that came in after you was served before you. But waiters are mere messengers most of the time, and it's wrong to shoot them, however bad the news."