A bartender who makes $5 an hour has been drawing attention on TikTok for defending tipping culture — and arguing that customers who skip tips could end up paying more anyway.
Dana May, who posts as @ayedanamay, shared a video that has reached 24,900 likes and 1,125 comments at the time of writing. In it, she explains why she believes tipping is essential, both for workers like her and for diners who want to keep menu prices down.
May says her restaurant expects her to earn most of her wages from customer tips. She makes only $5 an hour at her bartending job. Some customers refuse to tip and advocate for an end to tipping culture, and she wanted to set the record straight.
Dana May’s Case for Tipping
May acknowledges that in a perfect world, her restaurant would pay her a living wage. But she doesn’t think that’s realistic. Without tips, she argues, restaurants would have to raise menu prices to cover the difference — even if they could afford to pay staff more without hurting consumers.
Without tipping servers and bartenders, customers could see their checks grow at the end of the night.
She knew her video would draw backlash. Her point: it isn’t her fault she makes such a low wage without tips. She supports herself thanks to customer tips, and she believes tipping should remain an expected part of dining out.
May also said bartending can be financially rewarding. She knows people will keep dining and drinking out. But if enough people step away from tipping culture, she believes it could change the entire economy of the restaurant industry, affecting diners and servers alike.
Commenters Push Back
TikTok commenters had plenty to say about May’s video. Some agreed with her. Others were firmly against tipping.
“I never tip, it’s not required,” one person commented.
Another wrote, “Show me that tipping is mandatory.” May replied that they were brave for sharing that opinion online.
Others pointed out that food prices are going up anyway, and customers should expect higher bills regardless of tipping.
Some bartenders backed May’s position. One commenter wrote: “As a bartender, if we were paid a ‘livable wage’ and tipping wasn’t a thing anymore, I would not be in the industry anymore. You think I’m getting paid ~$15/hr to be HARASSED by MEN??”
The commenter’s point was that a flat hourly wage would not compensate for the harassment they face on the job.
The comments reflect a broader disagreement over how much responsibility customers should carry for compensating service workers.
The Video’s Reception
The video drew a notable response on the platform. At the time of writing, it had accumulated 24,900 likes and 1,125 comments.
May’s hourly wage of $5 is central to her argument. She says her restaurant expects tips to make up the bulk of her income.
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the details in the video. Everything above is based solely on May’s account of her experience and her views on tipping.
May’s Key Points
May’s central argument comes down to a few points she makes directly in the video:
- She earns $5 an hour and relies on tips to support herself.
- Her restaurant expects tips to make up most of her wages.
- Without tips, restaurants would raise menu prices to cover the difference.
- Customers who skip tips could see their bills grow at the end of the night.
- She believes tipping should remain expected at restaurants.
May falls firmly in the camp of workers who defend tipping. She makes enough money to support herself thanks to tips, and she wants that to continue.
Where the Conversation Goes Next
The comments on May’s video show that the debate over tipping culture is far from settled. Supporters and critics alike used the thread to air their views on who should bear the cost of service work.
For now, her position is on the record: she believes tipping should stay, and customers who skip it could face higher menu prices down the line.
Here is a breakdown of the key figures in May’s video and the response it generated:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Hourly wage | $5 |
| Likes at time of writing | 24,900 |
| Comments at time of writing | 1,125 |
| Commenter’s hypothetical wage | ~$15/hr |
| Platform | TikTok |
The numbers tell part of the story. The rest is in the arguments themselves.
Source: dailydot.com
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