Customer gives restaurant worker $5000 tip, manager demands they split it between every employee: 'Am I selfish to want to object?'

_{^{Source: Getty Images (Unsplash+)}}

A restaurant worker was already feeling good about her shift when one of their regular customers came in and started talking with her. She served him a meal and a smoothie, and when he paid, he left her with a $5k tip.

_{^{Source: Vitalii Khodzinskyi (Unsplash+)}}

“Last night a regular came in. He's been coming in for a few days now. He always talks about being all over the world, and I don't mind conversing, so we always talk . I just happen to chat with him more often than not since he's in during my shifts. Yesterday, however, he asked for something special, and I made him cool food and a smoothie. He paid and tipped 5k. He said it was to support my business!”

Following this happy surprise, she felt like it was only right to potentially share this gift among the coworkers who were working that day. However, she was less pleased when her manager texted her and demanded that the money be split among everybody who worked there.

_{^{Source: Getty Images (Unsplash+)}}

I didn't mind sharing with the team that day. I'm a lead and have worked more hours compared to everyone. I wasn't sure if it was my place to object when the manager texted this morning, saying the tip should be split among all the workers (10-13) when initially only 6 people were working that day. One lead said yes, but I'm not sure what to say. They might exclude the new guy and a bad worker, but the new guy was working the night with me too. What should I say? Am I selfish to want to object, knowing everyone needs the money?

_{^{Source: Lala Azizli (Unsplash+)}}

Although she understood the reasoning behind sharing with those on shift, she was less sure about almost everybody who worked there reaping the rewards of this one customer's generosity. In their advice, other people tended to agree with her—or tell her that she should be keeping the money for herself.

“I think just the shift at work at the time or only the server.”

 

“He tipped YOU. He said it's for your business. Not this business, not the crew, definitely not the crew who's not even there or the manager. The fact you're willing to share with the crew on that shift is generous enough.”

 

“If they're gonna expect restaurant workers to work for tips, the person who got the tip decides what to do with the money. Imagine management trying to tell you what you can or cannot buy. No way. Share it with whomever, or don't, it's up to you.”

 

“Man, this seems to always happen when you get a big tip, and the manager wants to take a cut. That's messed up. You should have told the customer something like “that’s sweet of you to want to support me, but if you tip on a card, chances are I won’t get it, it’s better if you Venmo me or give me cash”. Otherwise, the manager can say whatever he wants because that’s straight-up greed, making you share it with the whole restaurant. You can say no. But who knows if you will get what you deserve? Live and learn, my friend.”