Hey you. Yeah, you reading this. TIP YOUR SERVER.

For some reason, people think it is completely okay to not tip. Which, it's totally not. Let me give you some background information.

Nearly every server, at least in the state of Kentucky, makes 2.13 an hour. Yes, two dollars and thirteen cents an hour. Like, five dollars less than minimum wage.

So, without tips servers would make roughly 14 dollars in a 7 hour shift, before taxes come out.

That should be reason enough, however I will address some of the most common come-backs I have heard from people who either do not believe in tipping or do not understand the value.

1) "They decided to take that job knowing their pay. Not my problem."

Yes, they did. But they also took that job relying on the fact that people who come and sit down at a restaurant and are waited on hand and foot to get the best possible meal/service will tip someone for that service. I grew up with a single mother who told me you ALWAYS tip someone who does you a service, because yes, while it is their job, it is something they did for YOUR pleasure. It is something they did that you could not have had at home. You tip your servers, your hairdressers, your bartenders, your nail lady, your beautician, etc. So yeah, it is their job, but it's also your KINDNESS and civil respect to tip them as well.

2) "They should just get a real job."

Okay yeah, sure. Everyone who is a server takes this advice. Then you have no sit-down restaurants because there are no servers! So goodbye to your Red Lobster and Texas Roadhouse dinners!

Serving is a real job, and it is honestly very difficult. Many people do not see what servers go through or do behind the scenes, and honestly it's a lot. And ultimately, all these "behind the scene" tasks do what? Oh yeah, serve the purpose of making the CUSTOMER'S experience the best it can be.

3) "They shouldn't rely on tipping because in the end, it is not mandatory. Also, I'm broke and don't have money to tip :("

Ok, you don't have money to tip. Well, you don't have money to eat out. Go somewhere that is not a sit-down restaurant like Taco Bell or Subway. Because if you make the devotion to eat out at a sit-down restaurant, you are making the devotion to leaving a tip. That server waits on you, hand and foot. You complain about things they can't even control, they get you 4 cokes, they explain the menu to you, they give you the best service of their life, and they deserve a TIP FOR THIS.

So your excuse of "being broke" for not tipping is irrelevant. We are all struggling financially (most people I know anyways), but so is that server who is giving your their best work-smile in hopes to make enough to pay their electric bill tomorrow.

4) "They should not have made this their career if they are trying to raise a family on that pay. Just saying."

Honestly, most servers are either high school or college-aged kids trying to get by. But Ok, sure, being a server for life is not ideal. Honestly, it eventually breaks down your body and as you get older, it gets a lot tougher. However, do realize that either 1: That individual might not have had access to education to get a degree. A lot of older people who serve did not get a degree because they could not afford college. Also, getting a degree and going to college IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. 2: That individual might genuinely like serving. Personally, I have been serving for 3 years now and am in college, but I love it. Not only is the money generous enough for me to live on as a college student who pays my own bills, but it is actually very enjoyable. You make regular customers who you see all the time. I have people I have seen nearly everyday for the past 3 years who make the job worth it. Serving can be very fulfilling to those who thoroughly enjoy customer service. So if they want to continue doing that with their life, who are you to judge?

5) "Giving $1 as a tip is ok because it's money outside of the bill."

Yeah, it is money outside of the bill. And maybe perhaps 1-2 dollars is 20% of your bill because you ate cheap that day. No biggie. We do not expect you to tip an outrageous amount on a $10 ticket. However, if you come in with your whole family, say, 20 people, and your bill surpasses $100, the least you could do is a 20% tip.

6) "Not my fault the government does not pay them right. Why should I HAVE to tip to make up for it?"

I know, if the government paid servers more (which in some states and countries they do), then this discussion would be irrelevant. If servers got paid $8-$10 an hour, tipping would probably not be a social norm. However, that isn't the reality we live in, and I don't know if it ever will be. So really, why not just help each other out.

I get it if the service was bad. If your service is bad, then I UNDERSTAND leaving a smaller tip than you would have, I totally do. However, if you received exceptional service and your server made your experience pleasurable, you can have the decency to tip them well. I'm not saying you have to leave a 50% tip or anything like that, but the least you could do is tip the 20% dude.

Overall, any excuse to not tip is invalid. If you are a college aged kid and do not tip, go around and ask how many of your college friends rely on tips to get through college. Maybe you will change your mind.

If you are an adult who does not tip, for whatever reason, think about if that were your mother, your father, your daughter, etc. serving to get by. Think about how upsetting it is to the server to do their absolute best and not get anything in return.

Or think about the family that middle-aged woman/man could be raising on this job alone.

Yeah, it isn't mandatory, but my goodness would it be a wonderful thing if people began to realize that just because something is not "mandatory" does not mean it isn't the right thing to do.