Benton Harbor, Michigan – A waitress at the Mason Jar Cafe who received a $10,000 tip from an anonymous customer was terminated from her position only days after the generous gratuity was given. The restaurant claimed the firing was purely a business decision and unrelated to the hefty tip, which went viral after the news spread.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Linsey Boyd was let go by the cafe located in southern Michigan. The customer left the large tip to honor a friend’s funeral and requested that Boyd split it among the entire wait staff, resulting in over $1,100 for each employee.
The restaurant owners, Able Martinez and Jayme Cousins, explained on Facebook that Boyd had received the entire tip and did not pay taxes on it, as the business did. They stated that the decision to terminate her was not related to the tip or the events that unfolded afterward.
Boyd reported that she was asked by the management to take a mental health day shortly after the tip was received, and she was then instructed to take the following day off. In a now-deleted Facebook post, she mentioned being fired via a phone call the next day.
The fired employee claimed that she was an excellent and hardworking employee but found herself suddenly without a job. However, the restaurant’s management refuted Boyd’s statements, asserting that they care about their staff and take measures to support and retain them.
The owners emphasize that staff members have been with them for several years, and they have supported them through various circumstances, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the termination, they maintain that they value their employees and try to avoid such decisions.
Following her termination, Boyd left town to spend time with her family, signaling the end of a tumultuous period after receiving the substantial tip.
As the situation unfolds, both sides maintain their positions, leaving unanswered questions about the circumstances leading to Boyd’s dismissal.