Man Secretly Leaves a Generous Tip at Dinner to Counter His Father-In-Laws No Tip Policy, But His Gesture Gets Accidentally Exposed With Dramatic Repercussions.

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In an unexpected family conflict, the Original Poster (OP) finds himself at odds with his father-in-law (FIL) over tipping etiquette at a Greek restaurant during a birthday dinner.

University Jobs and Tip Culture

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The post begins with OP reflecting on his and his daughter’s past experiences as service workers. This shapes their understanding of how servers earn their living, underlining the importance of tips.

Birthday Celebration at the Greek Restaurant

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OP’s father-in-law (FIL) organizes a dinner at a Greek restaurant for his mother-in-law’s (MIL’s) birthday. The whole family enjoys a wonderful meal, with the FIL footing the bill, indicating his financial generosity.

Well Trained

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Especially because OP’s in-laws were footing the bill, he always ensured that they would respect their grandparents and avoid overspending. Things like extra drinks, pricey menu items, etc., were not to be ordered on their grandparent’s dime. For OP, this ensured that the meal wouldn’t be too expensive to include a tip.

Two Decades of Knowledge

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OP has known his in-laws for almost two decades, giving him a deep understanding of their habits and attitudes. The FIL’s aversion to tipping, however, is particularly noteworthy to OP. To compensate, OP typically leaves a tip in secret when dining with the in-laws.

The Supper Ends

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As the family wraps up their meal, OP checks the bill and leaves a 20% tip in cash. The intent is to ensure the server is adequately compensated for its efforts. OP believes he’s doing the right thing.

The Unexpected Return

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However, the server, presuming that the FIL accidentally left too much money, rushes out of the restaurant to return the extra cash. The server’s actions inadvertently reveal OP’s secretive tipping.

The FIL’s Furious Reaction

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The FIL immediately realizes the extra cash isn’t his. He never leaves tips and hasn’t included a $50 bill. He reacts with fury, accusing OP of disrespecting him and implying that he’s cheap.

Defending the Act

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OP, on the other hand, argues he was simply trying to do right by the server. His intentions were not to offend his FIL or make a spectacle. He understands the significance of a server’s tip.

Defending His Actions

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Not only is a tip a standard practice for OP, it is particularly important when a table is occupied for a considerable length of time. They were also a large party with significant needs. OP understood that if the server wasn’t tipped for this meal, it would take up a large chunk of their earnings for the evening.

A Family Divided

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OP’s wife is angry at him for upsetting her father. However, OP’s daughter, who has firsthand experience in the service industry herself, supports him and asserts that he did the right thing.

Strained Relationships

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In the aftermath, OP’s relationship with his in-laws and his wife becomes strained. Their differing views on tipping etiquette lead to rising tensions. It becomes apparent that this issue goes beyond just a single dinner.

The Silent Dilemma

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OP is now stuck in a silent dilemma. His stand has created a rift within the family, yet he firmly believes in the righteousness of his actions. He never meant to ruin a family celebration or offend his father-in-law.

Back Me Up

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When OP reaches out to an online forum for their opinion on the matter, he is met with great support. Most cannot justify a situation where a tip wouldn’t be warranted. Others had harsher words to describe OP’s FIL. He is left to feel justified in his actions.

Was Adding A Tip When His Father-In-Law Was Paying Appropriate?

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The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “Your father-in-law is a cheap jerk who frankly shouldn’t go out to eat if he refuses to pay the full cost of the meal – the full cost, of course, being the bill plus the tip.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote: “You did the right thing, but it’s probably not worth upsetting your wife.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person states, “ It’s acceptable behavior for you to want to add a tip since he so kindly paid for dinner.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another viewpoint on the story: “Maybe explain to him how servers make the bulk of their income off of tips, and that server may have a family to feed. He just may not know.”