Mom Shares $9 Paycheck After Working Over 70 Hours as a Server

Working as a server can be a thankless job. After all, staying on your feet, dealing with rude customers and trying to stay sane can be extremely difficult. It can be even worse when you work almost double the standard workweek. For one mom, putting in 70 hours of work should have led to a promising payday.

Boy was she disappointed.

Anyone who works in the food-service industry can attest to the low hourly wages. But in the case of Austin native Aaliyah Cortez, her recent paycheck showed just how silly the system is.

Her TikTok video explains:

TikTok video revealed she made roughly $150 in hourly wages. If you’re not a math whiz, don’t worry. I did the simple math and her hourly wage is shocking: $2.13.

Still, $150 would have been a reasonable amount to take home. That might cover a couple grocery store runs or even help fill up a few tanks of gas. But by the time medicare, taxes and social security took their respective bites, the waitress was left mostly empty-handed.

Fellow former servers know all too well about the inequitable system.

The bartender and server at a local sports bar luckily received about $700 in tips. And as any experienced server knows, tips can literally make or break your week. However, the overall system reflects a serious issue, at least according to Cortez:

“It’s not right that we have to do this, but I wanted to shed some light on the issue and inform the public about the importance of tipping.

If I had a good two weeks from tips my check will be on the lower side.

At my last restaurant, my checks would come out to be $0.”

While the system may not change overnight, Cortez’s TikTok post certainly sparked some interesting discussions over the equity gap for food-service workers and other employees who rely heavily on tips to boost their income.

At the end of the day, a server can’t control how he or she is paid. And restaurants certainly aren’t going to do anything drastic to put more money in an employee’s pocket. So the next time you dine out, don’t forget to tip your server.

Related Posts

Captured Serenity: Two Souls, One Boat, Endless Memories

The moment captured in the photo appears to be a relaxed summer scene, where two people are enjoying their time on a boat. The blue sea and…

Anne Heywood Remembered: Her Life and Legacy on Screen

A luminous star of classic cinema, Anne Heywood was a British actress whose elegance, intelligence, and bold screen presence made her unforgettable. Rising to fame in the…

Melania Trump’s secret dating history finally revealed

Before she became the poised First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump lived a life wrapped in quiet mystery – one that includes a few carefully…

Man accused of killing his daughter’s alleged rapist is now running for sheriff – here’s why

Aaron Spencer. Credit / Lonoke County Detention Center & Facebook A man accused of shooting dead his daughter’s alleged rapist is now running for sheriff, in a…

RFK Jr. adviser shares shock theory for Trump’s ‘dementia’

Donald Trump’s health has been a hot topic for months. Some have accused him of having developed dementia, and his swollen ankles, as well as bruises on…

Trump accused of ‘humiliating’ UK Prime Minister as viewers point out his reaction

Egypt became the center of the world on Monday as leaders met to discuss peace between Israel and Hamas. And let’s just say, Trump didn’t exactly blend…