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8th July 2024
03:42pm BST
A bartender from Austin, Texas has sparked a debate after revealing how much she got paid for 70 hours of work.
TikTok user, Aaliyah Cortez shared the details of her pay to encourage customers to ‘always tip their servers,’ stating she just wants to be ‘paid adequately and consistently’.
Cortez had worked in a sports bar for a year before she uploaded the video at the beginning of 2020.
She showed a pay breakdown to her followers which revealed she was paid just $2.13 an hour, not including tips.
If she worked 70 hours at just over $2 an hour she would take home around $140.
However, her payslip revealed a shocking take home pay of just $9.28 after federal taxes, social security and Medicare.
Cortez said: “So this is why you should always tip your bartenders and servers, anyone who waits on you or provides a service for you.
“Of course, I got tips, but this is what I got for my hourly. This is why you tip.”
She went on to criticise the service industry and explain the laws in the US.
@f.aa.ded PSA #psa #fyp #foryou #bartender #server #work #tips #chooseone #CleanFreshHype #photography101 #hardwork #viral ♬ original sound - bronté
Speaking to Buzzfeed she said: “There are laws set up that allow tipped employees to be paid under the federal minimum wage, which makes us rely on the customer to pay our wages.
“It’s not right that we have to do this, but I wanted to shed some light on the issue and inform the public about the importance of tipping.”
She pointed out that she could not afford to live off $2.13 an hour and that she relies on the generosity of her customers.
Viewers were left divided by the video. Many had sympathy for Cortez saying: “No mam, your bar/restaurant is getting free labor and that's not ok.”
Another said: “I don’t get why people go to restaurants and can’t leave a decent tip like just go to a fast-food place instead.”
However, some criticised the setup in the States: “This is why the US should be like EVERY other developed nation and not have a tip culture. Businesses should pay your wages. Tips shouldn't be a thing.”
Another fumed at the cheek of being encouraged to tip: “Tips are optional, always have been, always will be. The whole ‘if you can’t tip don’t eat out’ thing is pointless, we pay our bill that’s it.”
