(Web Desk) - A waitress who received a $10,000 (£7,915.80) tip on a $32.43 (£25.67) bill has been fired from her workplace after she split the generous sum with her co-workers.
Linsey Boyd was sacked from the Mason Jar Cafe in Michigan after sharing the money, but the business has said their decision was “nothing to do with the tip”.
The restaurant has since been inundated with dozens of negative reviews as Boyd’s supporters criticised the cafe for letting her go.
“I was willing to share a $10,000 tip, but was reciprocated with hate and rumours,” Boyd wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post.
The alleged problems began with the seemingly positive event, when a middle-aged benefactor, who wanted to remain anonymous, made the generous donation.
The mystery man had just attended a friend’s funeral and wanted to honour his memory and brighten someone’s day, according to general manager Tim Sweeney, who spoke to the Detroit Free Press.
He requested that the tip be split among staff, which worked out to around $1600 per person for the eight servers.
But “drama ensued” following the act of kindness, according to Boyd, who did not go into details on the nature of the problems.
Rumours have circulated that disagreements were sparked by employees who did not work on the day and expected to receive a cut of the donation.
“Drama ensued, and in an attempt to diffuse the situation and resolve any rumors, things became even worse,’ wrote Boyd as she shared her emotions on Facebook.
She said she then received a phone call on Tuesday to say she had been sacked.
“Finally... I got the call... I got the call, that I am fired... Now, I’m without a job for the first time since I was 15,” she said.
The call came after she was asked to take a mental health break for a couple of days.