A user’s clip on TikTok went viral after sharing a story of a peculiar job interview he held for an open bartender position.
In a video with over 421,000 views as of Saturday, Wisconsin-based TikTok user @chocolatemilkbrothers claims he was interviewing someone for a bartender position. The applicant was ideal, with 10 years of experience in the industry. Toward the end of the interview, the TikToker noted that the job’s salary was $12 an hour with 100% of tips.
“He goes, ‘that’s not going to be enough. I need 30 an hour plus 115% of tips,’” the TikToker recalls. “I’m like, ‘OK, how would 115% of tips work?’”
“‘Traditionally how this works is, I keep all of my tips plus 15% of other bartenders’ tips,’” the applicant allegedly responded.
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The TikToker says he answered by noting such an arrangement would be unfair to the other bartenders. The applicant counters by requesting $40 an hour with 100% of tips. The TikToker refused, and the interview allegedly concluded.
“Spoiler alert I didn’t hire him,” the TikToker writes in the caption.
In the comments section, many users noted the absurdity of such a request.
“The outrageous part is him wanting the other bartenders tips,” one user wrote.
“He better be single-handedly bringing people in as some type of attraction for that deal,” another added.
However, several users also claimed that $12 an hour was too low given the bartender’s experience.
“Dam* $12 an hour plus tip for 10 years of experience,” a commenter stated. “That’s a rip off.”
“With his experience it’s valid that 12 was a pretty bad offer in his eyes,” another echoed. “But 40 was a bit excessive.”
“Should be 20$ an hour plus tips,” offered a third.
For his part, the TikToker seemed to agree that the starting offer was too low.
“The owner told me I couldn’t negotiate pay so I told him he needed to interview people instead,” the TikToker wrote in a comment. In a later comment, he added, “From what I heard [the applicant] accepted a bartending job at a pizza place making 10 an hour.”
We’ve reached out to @chocolatemilkbrothers via TikTok comment.
Update 11:58am CT May 9: In a TikTok direct message exchange with the Daily Dot, the creator offered further insight into the situation.
“I’ve had several similar requests before and after this incident,” he explained. “I’ve never heard of anyone actually taking up an employee or applicant on any significantly higher wage or major benefits or anything of the sort. That management job I was not allowed to negotiate higher pay without talking to the owner. However, I have worked management jobs where I was able to negotiate wages, and I was always willing to negotiate for a higher starting pay.”
As far as the applicant is concerned, the TikToker says he talked about what happened with the other staff.
“I mentioned it to the owner and other management staff and they jokingly said they should move to Las Vegas if that’s what they pay hourly,” he shared. “There was also a 22 year old server that overheard the interview and jokingly mentioned she could retire by 30 if we started paying 30-40 an hour plus tips.”
