A waitress who was given a $4,400 (N1.8 million) tip has been sacked from her job because she refused to keep only 20 percent and share 80 percent with her colleagues.
The restaurant manager was said to have demanded that the lady known as Ryan Brandt keeps $880 (N360k) and gives out $3,520 (N1.4 million) for her colleagues to share, Daily Mail reports.
The huge tip had come from a group of good Samaritans led by real estate company owner, Grant Wise, through their ‘$100 Dinner Club’ at the Oven and Tap in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Every member of the club contributed at least $100 (N40k) towards the tip, which was handed to Brandt to split with another waitress who had helped serve the group.
The move left the waitress in tears, but her happiness was short-lived after the restaurant manager told her she would have to share the money with her co-workers.
According to Brandt, it is something that had never happened in all the three and a half years she has worked at the restaurant and received tips from patrons.
“I was told that I was going to be giving my cash over to my shift manager and I would be taking home 20 per cent,” Brandt told the media.
Brandt disclosed that her boss’ order left her devastated as she had planned to use the money to help offset her pending student loans.
A few days later, Grant Wise learned that the lady he had gifted the money had been fired for what the restaurant managers called ‘violating’ the rules.
According to him, he chose to help out, given that people in the hospitality industry had been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the club chose the Oven and Tap restaurant because it was a favourite for him and his wife.
He said; ”I’m so saddened to hear that the girl we tipped the other night at our $100 Dinner Club has been fired from her job.
I don’t fully understand why this would happen to what seems like such a sweet and kind-hearted woman. Nonetheless, I’m committed to showing her that there are great people in the world that will do good when they can!
I’ve started a GoFundMe page to help her raise some money to cover her expenses for the next couple of months to help her get through the holidays with the least possible amount of stress so she can focus on getting back on her feet.
“I hope that we can help this girl stay on top, and not let something like this get her down. My only goal is to help her get through this experience with the least amount of stress and anxiety possible.”
However, days after the GoFundMe was launched, Wise revealed that Brandt had gotten another job and that he was shutting down the fundraiser after it surpassed $8,537 (N3.5 million).
