Supporting the Waitress Who Fought Back Against Tip Theft!
We are raising money for Megan Hollis, the 22-year-old Cleveland waitress arrested for taking a stand against a $5 tip on a $304 bill.
What Happened?
On a busy night at Lakeside Grill in Cleveland, Megan Hollis dedicated nearly three exhausting hours to a party of ten celebrating a birthday. Her service went above and beyond: constant drink refills, cutting and serving cake, and painstakingly splitting the $304 check five separate ways—all the tedious, unseen labor service workers perform.
When she finally picked up the receipt, she was met with an insult: five crumpled one-dollar bills—a $5 tip. That’s a 1.6% tip for three hours of work on a massive bill.
In a moment of righteous, industry-wide frustration, Megan reportedly walked straight back to the table, asked, “Is this a prank?” and flipped the entire four-top onto its side. She was arrested moments later.
The Hard Truth of Tipping Culture
Megan’s actions, while extreme, are a direct reflection of the outrage felt by every tipped worker who has been exploited. In Ohio, the current tipped minimum wage is only $5.25 per hour. Waitresses like Megan rely entirely on tips to pay their rent, bills, and tuition. To dedicate three hours of professional service and receive $5 is not just cheap—it's wage theft dressed up as consumer choice.
As Megan rightly shouted, “YOU DON’T LEAVE FIVE DOLLARS ON A THREE-HUNDRED-DOLLAR BILL. I’M NOT A CHARITY.”
Why We Need Your Help
Megan now faces legal fees, potential fines, and lost wages from her arrest and subsequent time off work. We believe she acted out of pure frustration over a system that consistently undervalues and exploits service workers. Her table flip was a powerful moment of protest.
We are raising $5,000 to cover her immediate legal costs and to replace the income she will lose while dealing with this incident.
Let's Stand in Solidarity!
Every service worker knows the gut-wrenching feeling of being stiffed after running themselves ragged. Let’s show Megan that she is not alone and that her frustration is valid.
• DONATE: Every dollar helps bail her out and fight her case and covers her basic living expenses.
SHARE: Post this story! Use the hashtag #JusticeForMegan and call out exploitative tipping practices.
Let's send a clear message: Service is a job, not a servitude, and workers deserve respect and a living wage!
Thank you for supporting Megan!