Career server rants over 10% tips, reaffirming everyone's prejudice against toxic tipping culture: 'Just don't bother'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
May 31, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

Tipping culture is a very mercurial subject. 

Depending on who you ask about a 20% tip, you're going to get a few very different answers. Personally, I think a 20% tip is exorbitant, and I refuse to tip more than 10% or even $1 per item ordered, especially if the server only barely completed their short list of normal job duties. Many servers these days expect customers to basically give them a 10-35% raise for doing their job, insisting on big bonuses for the absolute bare minimum. In states where the minimum wage is $7, I sort of understand tipping pressure, but in California or New York, where servers make more annually than most tradesmen, nurses, or other specialized workers, the tipping guilt trip feels a little steep. 

Well, apparently, now we don't have to wonder anymore if we're supposed to tip or not, because this career server, who has worked in the industry for decades, has cleared things up on Reddit's r/tipping subreddit. If you're "cheap" like me and refuse to leave enormous tips, just leave nothing! According to this long-time server and service industry pro, a 10% tip is just insulting enough to make servers upset anyway.

In their eyes, if a server is going to be impolite and complain in the kitchen with the busboys anyway, you might as well leave a $0 tip. 

Buckle up, fellow restaurant enjoyers, because Pandora's box just split wide open online, and it turns out, Pandora ain't tipping either!

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  • TOLOL
    via Canva+ (Igor Vershinsky)

    A customer gives a waitress a tip, as depicted by models. 

  • If you always leave a 10% tip, just don't bother at all - from a server
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • I have seen a lot of people saying they only leave 10% or a flat dollar amount, regardless of the bill. After years of working in hospitality in North America, let me tell you this. JUST DON'T BOTHER.
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • Cheezburger Image 10634175488
    via Canva+ (Igor Vershinsky)

    Model's representation of tipping culture. 

  • For context I'm originally from the UK and now live in Toronto. I have worked in restaurants and bars across Canada, England,
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • Australia and America in every position from pot washer to GM. I'm currently a server whilst I finish grad school and have been for the last 3
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • years, first in Vancouver and now in Toronto. The money I make as a server is ridiculous and completely detached from the labour I
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • provide. There is no tipping culture in England or Australia and every time a customer leaves me a buck, I'm incredibly grateful.
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • But let me make one thing perfectly clear. This is NOT how Canadians servers think. They EXPECT and think they deserve at LEAST 20%. It is ludicrous,
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • delusional and narcissistic. Servers working full-time in my restaurant and the surrounding establishments make 1300-2000 CASH a week. Extrapolate the
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • maths on what that equates to pre-tax for a working professional, it's insanity. But whatever, I don't begrudge people making a healthy living,
    via BigDfromCheadle

  • That's an exorbitant amount of money. 

    Perhaps a 10% tip isn't going to make much of a dent when you're expecting to walk away with thousands in cash every night. Frankly, at my job, I don't make tips, so maybe that's why I'm a little salty about it all. But if you imagine tipping in literally any other industry, the entire concept is ludicrous, and not something worth complaining about. 

  • i'm unbelieveably fortunate that a part time job has supported me through grad school. What drives me insane is the sneering and complaining about people that leave 10% or
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • a nominal amount (5-10 bucks). THEY DONT HAVE TO LEAVE YOU ANYTHING. It is all generosity and kindness, but it is not interpreted
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • Cheezburger Image 10634175232
    via Canva+ (Igor Vershinsky)

    Model portrays a server bringing glasses to her customer's table. 

  • as that. A 10% tip is seen as an insult. There is zero appreciation. I guarantee 9999% of the time you leave that 10% the N Amercian service
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • staff are slagging you off and calling you cheap in the back. So what's the point?
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • Cheezburger Image 10634175744
    via Canva+ (Igor Vershinsky)

    Model depicts the POS system behind a restaurant. 

  • I understand the urge to want to leave something, to seem kind or not cheap, but why? If it's not appreciated because it isn't deemed to be enough, you may as well
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • leave zero and get on with your day. I promise you it won't change that server's day/life.
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • I realize this all sounds incredibly pessimistic and a huge generalization. But I have spent years and years in hospitality in N America, and hang
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • around constantly with industry people. I promise you, for those looking in from the outside. This is the general consensus.
    via BigDfromCheadle
  • Major_Wigglesworth ⚫ The sneering and slagging are exactly why they aren't providing "quality service," they're just panhandling for more charity. Which is
    via Major_Wigglesworth
  • fine-but most people don't appreciate it. Just paying the employer and having them pay their employees is sufficient for me!
    via Major_Wigglesworth
  • killingfloor42. I'll leave nothing. Sounds good to me.
    via killingfloor42
  • kbomb27. I stopped tipping long ago. I worked as a server and if I made 10% tips back then I was making great money and like you
    via kbomb27
  • said now its 20%. There are servers who make more the journeyed tradesmen and act like its not enough.
    via kbomb27
  • CantFeelMyLegs78 ⚫ I wish I could get a random 10% - 30% raise for doing my job.
    via CantFeelMyLegs78
  • Octavia Blake100 Alot of times they don't even say thank you because they think they deserve extra for doing the bare minimum. So it's better to just not leave anything. You get treated the same way as if you paid 20% tips anyway.
    via Octavia Blake100

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servers waitress service industry
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