Applebee's Waitress Fired for Posting "I Give God 10%, Why Should You Get 18" Receipt (PHOTOS)
An Applebees waitress was fired this week for sharing a photo on Reddit of a receipt from a St. Louis pastor who not only did not give the suggested tip, but also wrote a note indicating why.
According to the Huffington Post, the pastor wrote, "I give God 10%, why should you get 18" After the photo was uploaded to Reddit, a social news and entertainment website, Applebees fired the waitress for not "protecting the privacy'" of guests.
That waitress whose name is Chelsea Welch thought people would find it entertaining. "I thought the note was insulting, but it was also comical," Welch told Consumerist.
Welch said she even read the Applebee's employees handbook , but found out that she "didn't break any specific guidelines."
Applebees released a statement, stating: "Employees must honor the privacy of APPLEBEE'S and its employees by seeking permission before writing about or displaying internal APPLEBEE's happenings that might be considered to be a breach of privacy and confidentiality."
Reddit subscribers eventually managed to track down the pastor responsible for the receipt, 37-year-old, Alois Bell. In an interview with The Smoking Gun, Bell apologized and said her actions left her deeply hurt. "My heart is really broken," Bell said. "I've brought embarrassment to my church and ministry." Bell learned that a copy of the receipt was posted online when a friend told her over the phone. Bell then called the restaurant to complain that because of her viral signature, it ruined her reputation in church. After a follow-up conversation with the restaurant, Bell got word that the waitress was fired.
"I come home exhausted, sore, burnt, dirty, and blistered on a good day. And after all that, I can be fired for 'embarrassing' someone who directly insults their server on religious grounds," Welch said.
HuffPost Comedy recently started a petition with hopes that Applebees may give Chelsea her job back.