Dear Sir,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and in a prosperous enough to state to put wealth into the pockets of men like me down on my luck, because, you see, that was my wife you decided to fuuu-"
From "Say No to This" from Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda
All joking and "hamming" aside, this is a real problem. I appreciate that you have had a rough time financially and really wanted some food, so you chose to come to full service restaurant. I also do this when I have no money. Your lovely note on the receipt definitely made me feel better. "The tip would be more, but I'm broke." I feel sympathy, because I am also broke. Even more so now, since you decided not to tip me for service that was at least standard, prompt, and courteous.
This is my job, and I do treat it as such. I make a conscious effort to provide great customer service in the hopes that you would be gracious enough to share some money with me. You see even though the government defines a tip as, "a gift from the customer to the employee," it still is the the only pay I'll be receiving from this job, where I work anywhere from five- to twelve- hour shifts for $2.13 (the acceptable wages to pay an employee who works for tips), which mostly goes to taxes.
Additionally, since it is totally legal for my employer to force me to pay him at the end of my shift (commonly called a "tip-out") based on the amount of food that I sell, by not tipping you've put me in debt to my employer. Furthermore, your beautiful attitude during your dining experience made my night even better; I especially appreciated your complaints about the kitchen and that your well done sirloin was too tough. The incessant questions, your inconsolably crying child, and the smear of ranch dressing you left on the table are definitely acceptable in lieu of a paycheck for me.
While I understand that you may philosophically disagree with the tipping process and the laws in place, don't take that out on my family and me. I devote around 30 hours per week or more of my busy life as a student and husband to wait on ungrateful people in a dark restaurant that I don't leave until around 11:30 at night. If you disagree, do something productive; write your congressman or woman. Tell them how you feel but please don't put me in a further state of poverty.
I've been doing this for almost four years and people like you are the reason that I can't afford to make my rent, pay my car insurance, or afford groceries. Minimum wage would theoretically pay more, but this job was more accessible and occasionally people are more generous than you; sometimes the money is worth it, but your attitude isn't.
Sincerely,
A tired and aggravated server