I know some people read the title of this article and immediately thought, "Oh no, here we go again." Even though this has been an article that has been written so many times, the topic is still something that really should be addressed until people start understanding that they need to do this. I'm a server, and I have a problem with people who do not tip.

I have been a server for three years now. This has easily been one of the hardest jobs I have ever had. So many people might think that being a server is easy, but, in reality, it can be quite challenging. What makes this job even more challenging is how much we servers depend on our tips. Yes, the tips that we make help us live our lives.

Severs also make a paycheck. But, the paycheck is usually ridiculously low, making it difficult for a waitress to live off of. With having tips in the picture along with the paycheck, it makes it a little bit easier for them to live. Now, this is where people get confused. Back in January of 2017, New York State raised the minimum wage for serving staff to $7.50/hr. A lot of customers seemed to think that we servers did not need to be tipped because of this increase. This is where people are wrong. People do not seem to realize that sometimes, the tips we receive are not good. I have had tables that come in and order $50-$100 worth of food and leave maybe one to two dollars as a tip.This stinks as a tip, and is not even 10%. I could give them the greatest service that I could possibly give, and it will still never be good enough. You cannot please everyone, but it is situations like that that become frustrating. We know what we should be getting tipped, and then do not give it. I plan my tips to pay my bills, and it is disappointing when I struggle to pay one because of poor tips like that.

Whenever I go out to eat, I always like to tip at least 20% of whatever the bill might be. Sometimes I tip higher, sometimes I tip lower. But, the one thing I will not do, is not tip at all. Every server deserves a tip, and not a sarcastic one or a demeaning one that some people like to write on the receipts. Even if they were not very good, at least give them a dollar. Give your server something. You have to remember that this is how they buy groceries, pay their bills, buy clothes and supplies for their children if they have them. This is how they survive in this world and every time you do not tip, you are taking something away from them.

I absolutely love my job and love the connection I have with some of the customers that come in. This job has been a learning experience and something that I have grown to absolutely love. But sometimes, it is not worth the fact that I could not get tipped and then not have enough money to pay my bills. Please, next time you go out to eat and you think about a tip, think about how they use this money that you leave on the table. That five dollar tip that you leave could feed one of their kids or at least get them something that they need to survive. You could be part of the reason they pay a bill on time so, please, tip your servers!