Applebee's Server Fired for Posting Customer's Receipt Online

MrsJrotax101

MrsJrotax101

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A server from an Applebee's restaurant in St. Louis, Mo., was fired this week after posting a photo of a receipt from a customer who refused to tip — presumably because of religious reasons.

Chelsea Welch, the former server, posted the above photo to Reddit's r/atheism channel on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
The photo shows a receipt for a $34.93 bill, with an 18% gratuity ($6.29) added underneath, which the customer had scribbled over with the phrase "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?"

The photo quickly spread across Reddit, Facebook and a handful of blogs. Before long, word made its way to the woman who left the note — later identified as Pastor Alois Bell — who called the restaurant and demanded the entire staff be fired, Consumerist reported.

The next day, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, Welch was let go.


"I posted a picture to make people laugh," she said in an article for the Guardian. "When I posted this, I didn't represent Applebee's in a bad light. In fact, I didn't represent them at all."

Welch said the note was actually from a co-worker's table — she only took a picture and posted it as a light-hearted joke. The automatic 18% gratuity is part of the restaurant's policy for parties of eight or greater, as Bell's was.

The original photo included Bell's full signature, which Welch told Consumerist she had thought to be illegible. After commenters on Reddit began taking cracks at the name, Welch replaced the photo with the signature cropped out — by then, though, Bell had already caught wind of it.

Welch said in the Guardian article that she was well-liked at the restaurant and had no previous incidents. She was even anticipating on being promoted to a managerial role in the near future.

"I did my best to protect the identity of all parties involved. I didn't break any specific guidelines in the company handbook – I checked. But because this person got embarrassed that their selfishness was made public, Applebee's has made it clear that they would rather lose a dedicated employee than an angry customer. That's a policy I can't understand"​
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In an interview with The Smoking Gum, Bell — who heads a 15-member church in St. Louis — said she regretted her remarks and referred to the incident as a "lapse" in her character and judgment.

"My heart is really broken ... I’ve brought embarrassment to my church and ministry."

Applebee's spokesperson Dan Smith said the incident had violated the privacy rights of Bell, The Smoking Gun added.

Welch had been waiting tables to save money for college. Read her full account in the Guardian here.

Article from: http://mashable.com/2013/02/01/applebees-fired/
 
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"In an interview with The Smoking Gum, Bell — who heads a 15-member church in St. Louis — said she regretted her remarks and referred to the incident as a "lapse" in her character and judgment."

I think that's very Christian of her, to understand in her own self that people may lapse on occasion, but doesn't feel others should be given the same chance to regret their lapses.

I understand that this Sunday she'll be giving a sermon on "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you"

Question....... Why does she only give 10% to God?

I think i've covered everything I got out of that, thx for the post....:D
 
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I think the key to this story is "15 member church"... 15 members? Her church is most likely a little "different" lol.. That alone should take all credibility from the story and Applebee's should be ashamed for firing the server.. Oh well she can always go to work at chilis lol
 
MrsJrotax101 said:
I was wondering if it was actually 100% but the % got shortened.
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You're the PS-er , but it looks untampered to me........ but in todays PS age who knows............ What bugs me the most, is ppl that go after others though their jobs, but don't have the guts to face them in person........ Seems to be a common practice these days.
 
bdh63 said:
I think the key to this story is "15 member church"... 15 members? Her church is most likely a little "different" lol.. That alone should take all credibility from the story and Applebee's should be ashamed for firing the server.. Oh well she can always go to work at chilis lol
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I'm guessing that another place will call to hire her(hearing she was about to be put into management).......... Let's hope.
 
Hmm not very nice, especially from somebody who's supposed to set an example and be caring and helpful to all, religious or not proper or not. The note shows a bitter concern about money and the regret shown now sure looks like it is because they got exposed. Religion and money should not mix...
Not sure if I am sad or disgusted... maybe both. And I am not even a religious person. Imagine how real honest members of that church/denomination must feel.

The percentage mentioned is actually 10% and it is called Tithe and it is practiced by many religions, most of the times it is a voluntary donation so I still don't get the bitterness of the note's author.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe

I certainly doubt GOD needs money, people most definitely do though...
 
Dragos said:
The percentage mentioned is actually 10% and it is called Tithe and it is practiced by many religions, most of the times it is a voluntary donation so I still don't get the bitterness of the note's author.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe

I certainly doubt GOD needs money, people most definitely do though...
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That's right, totally forgot!! Thank you for bringing that up. Now we know.
 
"I give God 10%"

Heads the church.


kk... I believe this fellow. 10% from 15 members, assuming they all make about average, is still 1.5x what the average person in her flock makes.

I'm sure my math and logic are faulty, though I don't find relevency in following this discussion any further than I have inputted already :p
 
Tipping has always been a sore point for me. I waited and bused tables at one point in my life. It's a hard job, you work *** off, then someone gives you a small tip (or none) in return.

People don't realize that you're not being compensated fully by your employer, in anticipation of making it up with tips.

I've already been out with friends when they short tipped their server, then called them out in front of everyone for it for being a cheapass.

I think this pastor ought to try working as a waitress for a while, and see how she feels about tips after that.
 
That's pitiful. Both the pastor and Applebee's should be ashamed of themselves. You just can't be an undercover jerk nowadays...if you're a jerk, wear the hat proudly and embrace your social media publicity. Don't come up with lame "lapse" of judgement excuse. You shouldn't need good judgement if your a good person, it's just natural.
 
I think this lady deserved to be called out, people who dont tip are scum. And if thats whay you do stand by it. Dont do something then pull it back just because you got called out and people didnt like it. That just makes you look even worse.
 
I've never worked in the food industry but I hear tons of stores about waiters/waitresses not making much money from their employers so that's where the tips come into play. I ALWAYS tip VERY well! My grandmother worked as a waitress back in the 50's and she would tell me the stories of douchebags leaving a penny in a glass for her tip. I know money was different back then but a penny?! :mad:

The waiter/waitress has to do a VERY bad job for me to give them below 18% tip. If the bill is $35 they get a $7 tip (20%). Of course if they do a better job they get more than that. But 20% is pretty much a standard for me.

I would sue Applebees and the pastor! They were wrong for both. The pastor for doing that (she isn't right in the head) and Applebees for firing her over it. It didn't have the customers name or anything!
 
KennyGS said:
Tipping has always been a sore point for me. I waited and bused tables at one point in my life. It's a hard job, you work *** off, then someone gives you a small tip (or none) in return.

People don't realize that you're not being compensated fully by your employer, in anticipation of making it up with tips.

I've already been out with friends when they short tipped their server, then called them out in front of everyone for it for being a cheapass.

I think this pastor ought to try working as a waitress for a while, and see how she feels about tips after that.
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I fully agree. eating out even if at a small diner is a bit of a luxury so shelling out some extra cash for a tip makes a lot of sense. As you say tips are part of their income the base pay is very small.

The 10% logic is also faulty from the Pastor person where 10% of all your income is a diff story than 18% of a small expense.
 
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