Michigan server reveals why she was fired after receiving viral $10K tip: ‘Don’t want to create a bigger issue’

The Michigan server who received a $10,000 tip was dismissed after she declined to disclose the identities of her coworkers who expressed dissatisfaction about not receiving a portion of the tip. Linsey Huff, also known as Boyd, received the generous gratuity on a $32.43 bill at the Mason Jar Cafe while in town for a friend’s funeral. The anonymous tipper requested the $10,000 be divided among the service staff, resulting in each of the eight servers receiving around $1,200.

However, the kitchen staff at the Benton Harbor restaurant felt overlooked by the sizable gift, leading to tension within the team. Despite Huff attempting to address the issue with management, they insisted on knowing the individuals causing the disturbance. Huff, through her lawyer Jennifer McManus, declined to reveal their identities, seeking a resolution without escalating the situation.

Following her termination, Huff took to social media to share her experience. She claimed that management had threatened legal action against her unless she deleted her posts, which detailed her firing and the restaurant's alleged threat to sue for her assets. McManus confirmed that the termination stemmed from Huff's refusal to identify her disgruntled coworkers.

Cafe owners Able Martinez and Jayme Cousins disputed these allegations, asserting that the decision to terminate Huff was solely based on business reasons. They clarified that while Huff did share the tip as requested by the patron, her dismissal was unrelated to the incident. Martinez and Cousins emphasized their care for their staff despite the controversy.

McManus criticized the restaurant's ownership for firing Huff, highlighting the discord between the staff and management.