A woman's bold statement about not tipping Starbucks drive-thru workers has sparked an intriguing debate on TikTok, with many people supporting her stance.
Meghan Elinor, a former server, took to TikTok to voice her opposition to the practice of tipping drive-thru workers, particularly those at Starbucks. She argues that these employees don't actually perform any work, other than giving people their finished drink at the window.
In the now-viral TikTok video, Elinor says that Starbucks drive-thru workers are only 'taking a cup' and handing it to you, which is why she doesn't tip at the Starbucks drive-thru.
Elinor's video, which has gained over 1.5m views, features a woman asking if tipping Starbucks drive-thru staff is mandatory.
"Are we tipping Starbucks now?" the woman asked. "Are we tipping people now at the window?"
Elinor then rejected the idea of tipping these employees, “we are not tipping at the Starbucks drive-thru,” she loudly proclaimed.
She added that, with her background as a former server, she’s "exceptionally passionate" about the rules of tipping and what necessitates leaving one.
"I worked in the service industry for the first ten years of my life," Elinor said. "From the time that I was legally able to work at the age of 14/15 until I was 24/25, so about nine to ten years."
And while Elinor said she usually leaves hefty tips at restaurants for servers, bussers, and runners, she won’t do the same for those working at the drive-thru window.
"Listen I love [Starbucks workers], I do, but I'm not going to f*king tip you when all you're doing is taking a cup and handing it to somebody outside the window."
At the end of the video, Elinor added that she's "not sorry" about not tipping Starbucks drive-thru workers, even though she’s aware that the philosophy around tipping is a "controversial" one.
The diversity of opinions regarding the tipping philosophy was evident in the comments section of the video, with many people expressing mixed views.
The video received thousands of comments, with many people supporting Elinor and agreeing that not everyone is worthy of a tip.
"The only people I tip: waiters, delivery drivers, movers, hairdressers/any salon service and that’s it," one wrote.
"I agree 100% Paying $7+ for coffee is already paying for the service of having a coffee made," another agreed.
On the other hand, others weren't happy with Elinor's explanation for not leaving a tip and thought she was being too dismissive of how hard it can be to work as a Starbucks barista.
They wrote, "You do understand that the only you tip goes to all the workers right? Not just the people working the window."
@meghanelinor ♬ original sound - Meghan Elinor
Starbucks employees also opposed Elinor's stance, pointing out that their job is more difficult than she described it to be. They explained that there’s more to their job than simply taking drink orders and giving them to customers.
"Starbucks Batista here, it’s a lot harder than most assume it is. And yes those tips are divided amongst all of the Baristas, [and] the entire store," one shared.
"I'm a former Starbucks worker... I was making $8 an hr! While making 100+ drinks a day. it's not as easy as you say," another added.
It’s not surprising that the matter of tipping Starbucks drive-thru workers is a source of disagreement, given the already controversial nature of the tipping culture in America. Ultimately, whether or not someone deserves a tip is a matter of personal opinion.
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Sylvia Silverstone is a passionate writer who loves to share her knowledge and expertise on a wide range of topics, including beauty, life hacks, entertainment, health, news, and money. With a keen eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Sylvia's engaging writing style keeps readers coming back for more.
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