Would You Put Up With a Creep for a Bigger Tip? Inside the Messed-Up Economics of Restaurant Work


Ever wonder why servers smile through harassment? Many restaurant workers face truly unhinged customers daily but stay silent

for cash.



“You have a great ass.”  Yeah, this was said by one of those unhinged customers. Did I stay silent for the cash? Yeah. I kept my mouth shut so that I could keep the twenty-dollar bill that creepy guy was giving. It felt awful. Workers in the food industry have come face to face with sexual harassment in all forms, especially the ones who depend on tips. This is a real problem that has been around for decades. In a world where restaurant staff are under paid, workers will put up with sexual harassment to get a couple extra bucks. 

Sexual harassment affects everyone, including men, but statistically women face it more. The MeToo movement states that 82% of women and 42% of men experienced sexual harassment in 2024. It is found all over today’s world, so let’s not take away from the other instances. 



Ever heard of Blake Lively or Brendan Fraser? According to Forbes, Blake was working on set in 2024, filming the movie “It Ends with Us” when the weirdo Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her. Making note he made the work environment hostile. Another instance reported by Business Insider states that Brendan was ‘groped’ while being interviewed by GQ. If even Hollywood stars with money and clout face this kind of treatment, imagine what underpaid restaurant staff who rely on tips just to survive go through. Let’s dig in deeper.



So, listen up: According to a study done by the  MeToo movement, approximately 1 in every 50 women has been sexually assaulted at school or in the workplace. In this study they also found that 37% out of 1,785 females experiences some type of sexual harassment at their workplace or internship. For years this has been going on. When will we stop pretending this isn’t a problem? 

While similar but not better, a study from Setyan Law states that up to 90% of women in the restaurant industry have encountered this bizarre behavior. Now despite that high percentage, there is still around 75% of instances regarding sexual harassment that go unreported. 



What is the reason they go unreported? One major connection is tip dependence. In today’s world people need extra tips to pay their bills. This creates a power imbalance between customers and employees, often resulting in the tolerance of harassment. Journal of American College Health says that older supervisors are more prone to take advantage of younger workers because of being more expendable and their inexperience.

Oftentimes employees who are inexperienced don’t have a great amount of social networking compared to experienced ones. Young workers are expendable due to lower wages, entry level, and not knowing their rights. So, while creepy customers are trying to rizz up the employees, the workers are turning a blind eye to make a few extra bucks.



What is really stopping employees from speaking up about harassment? Alongside the reliance on tips, workers often fear job loss, retaliation, or schedule cuts. Many of these workers are young college students. Journal of American College Health did a study that showed college students are more likely to be directly affected by this due to not having as many resources. No cap, if a recurring and influential business customer came in and started harassing you, would you grow a set and tell your boss or would you ignore it? A lot of restaurant workers face this decision weekly, if not daily. 

What psychological stress does this put-on restaurant workers? According to King and Siegel, victims of sexual harassment may experience sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, PTSD, or even panic attacks. These are all symptoms of going through a trauma. Though many of these workers believe they are so sigma, sexual harassment is and will always be insidious.


Some people may say that no one is forcing restaurant workers to stay at these places. If you don’t like it, why not just get another job? That statement completely ignores today’s economic realities. Most of the workers in restaurants are college students, immigrants, or even single parents. Real girl talk here, most employees in this field stay because of flexible schedules, quick cash, or because they lack other options. 


Others might say “not all customers are like that” but when up to 90% of women in the industry report experiencing harassment, we can’t dismiss it. This isn’t just a few bad apples; it is a widespread issue that allows customers to control employees. 

At the end of the day turning a blind eye isn’t a choice, it is survival for these workers. Restaurant employees aren’t staying silent because they have to, but because they are afraid of losing income or their job.  Society continuously tells us to “speak up” and “get help” but oftentimes when we actually do, we are dismissed, gaslighted, or punished. The burden is placed on the workers, not the abusers. Until the food industry values its workers and their dignity as much as the customers, silence remains the safest option. The solution is not about being polite or demure, but simply about dignity and showing respect.




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