The server clocks in on Friday afternoon with one goal: to make as much money as possible without losing their mind. They check in at the host stand to let them know that they is ready, and patiently waits for their first table.

In the mean time, they are running food, restocking items, and bracing themselves for another busy Friday night. Five minutes later, the host tells the server that they have been sat. They take a deep breath, grabs an order pad, and heads to their four-table section.

The section quickly fills up with two parties of three, one party of five, and one party of seven. Trying to remain calm in front of customers; the server tries their best to show confidence.

After all the annoying questions, rude demands from customers, and chaos that happens in the kitchen, the only thing that the server looks forward to is the tip. After collecting the receipts from the empty tables, the server is disappointed with the outcome of their hard work.

The tips from their first round of tables for the night ranged from $2 tips, to 10 cent tips, while getting stiffed in between.

Many people try to argue that tipping should be banned because it is not the customer’s job to pay the server’s salary. In a sketch published by CollegeHumor, comedian Adam Conover says “why is it our responsibility to pay the restaurants employees humanely? Why don’t they just pay you a normal amount of money and make the food more expensive?”

Although it does seem like a burden on customers to spend even more money on top of their bill, they are not just paying for their food, they are paying for good service.

Put yourself in a servers shoes. After being on your feet for hours, running around to keep up with customers, and having to deal with questions like “Is there chicken in the chicken tortilla soup? What is the difference between the seven ounce and nine ounce steak? What’s the filet and lobster?,” and still managing to keep a smile on your face after you are called “stupid” and “incompetent”, wouldn’t it be nice to go home with a little extra cash at the end of your shift? Instead of having to wait until pay day for your measly minimum wage check?

The prices on the food can change, but the crabby customers will never go away.

Customers should not take for granted the effort that servers make in order for them to have a positive dining experience. The time and energy that servers invest in their jobs is definitely not worth the minimum wage pay, especially if the server is going to school full-time and needs fast money to pay their bills.

If you want to refill your own drink, take your own food to your own table, and clean up your mess before you leave, then go eat at a fast food restaurant. Otherwise, be kind and pay it forward with a nice 20 percent tip to show your server you appreciate them.