A local blogger recently stood up for restaurant servers and challenged influencers to tip the hardworking people who serve them, especially when their meal has been covered.
South Africa (14 April, 2023) — Tip your servers. It’s a pretty straightforward concept, especially in South Africa where tips are the bread and butter of many employees’ income. Still, some patrons still aren’t in the business of tipping, even when their entire meal has been covered, and one local blogger has had enough.
Taking to social media, Dylan Moore shared an important open letter to non-tipping patrons whose meals are paid for. We love to hear about locals standing up for what’s fair and, Moore’s mini open letter had many locals virtually nodding in agreement; opening the door to how important tipping in South Africa really is, and why it’s a small bit of good we should all be responsible for.
In his words:
I’ve been in blogging for 13 years now and I find it mind-boggling that people who do Media / Influencer visits to restaurants are still not tipping their servers in this day and age!
I’ve hosted many a Media Lunch / Dinner and always mention that the tip is not included and was blown away in the past to see some people just sneak off and not even contribute to the tip. These were some of the biggest foodie “influencers” in Cape Town. It’s just downright embarrassing!
If your entire visit is being covered, the least you can do is tip the person who made your visit a memorable one. I do understand that you are an invited guest, giving the restaurant coverage on your social channels, but that’s not on the server, that’s on the establishment.
I saw this happen again last night at a restaurant I work with.
As he concludes, “be lekker and tip your servers!”
Why It Matters
The conversation is bigger than influencers. It’s a reminder for all of us that tipping matters more than we think, and that there are people standing up for the servers who can’t speak up for themselves.
We’ve seen a lot of local legends tipping over and above throughout the years, and we’re always inspired by them! Even if you can’t afford to tip lavishly, even a little tip can go a long way.
by 