A Rutgers University student who is waiting tables at D’Jais Bar & Grill this summer to help put herself through school received a receipt with no tip and an embracing note.
A few days ago Jess Jones of Belmar, a 2013 Manasquan High School graduate, was waiting on a party of eight people at Ocean Avenue. After the $112.03 bill was paid for by credit card, Jones discovered that her customers had left her no tip. Instead, the acronym “LOL” — which stands for “laughing out loud” — was written on the tip line of the receipt next to the words, “1 hour for food.”
The next day, Jones went on her Facebook page to vent about the situation with a post of what happened with an attached photo of the receipt.
Jones agreed to permit the Asbury Park Press to share her story and publish the photo of the receipt.
“Last night, I was stunned by this receipt that was left for me by a party of eight people,” Jones wrote. “I would have preferred a ‘$0’ tip than a ‘LOL’ tip, but as a waitress, bad tips and harsh notes are all part of the job. Even though they did wait an hour to eat, they remained satisfied with filled drinks and proper notice that the kitchen was a bit busier than normal. I’ve worked in the service industry for five years and I take pride in providing great service to my customers.”
Jones said that servers in New Jersey earn $2.50 an hour. For nontipped workers in the Garden State, the minimum wage is $8.38.
“Most of my paychecks are less than pocket change because I have to pay taxes on the tips I make,” she wrote. “I need tips to pay my bills. All waiters do. We spend an hour or more of our time befriending you, making you laugh, getting to know you, and making your dining experience the best it can be. We work hard, and we really do care.”
