An Uber Eats delivery driver has broken down in tears after getting a less than $2 tip for an hour-long delivery.
Food delivery driver Smithson Michael - who goes by the handle @itssmithsonmichael on TikTok - has taken to the social media platform to give viewers a true glimpse into what it's like to work in the food industry.
In his viral video, Michael speaks about how he wishes people knew what it was really like to deliver for companies like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Postmates...
... Especially when it comes to tipping.
Michael says through tears in the video: "I wish people knew what it was like to deliver for Uber Eats. Postmates, DoorDash, all these companies," before explaining a situation he was in recently where he was driving around for an hour to make a delivery, but only received a $1.19 tip from the customer.
"I mean, would it hurt y'all to tip us, throw us five dollars? I got a $1.19 tip and two dollars from the app... That's not even enough to cover gas. How am I supposed to survive like that?"
Then, after explaining his recent financial struggles, Michael ended the video by saying: "I wish people knew what it was like. I wish they understood what it was like to drive for these services."
In the caption on the video, Michael wrote that his vehicle was sadly repossessed after making the TikTok, adding: "My car was repoed and sold after this. If possible please tip your driver it goes a long way. you never know how much it means to them."
Buzzfeed later reported on the viral clip, where they wrote that Michael has worked in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York for a little over a year.
Though, as with most things on the internet, the public response was quite divided.
One user played the Devil's advocate, writing that a larger tip may have been unreasonable. "I understand. But the food be like 15. Tax, delivery fee, and tip gon bring to 24. That's outrageous [sic]," they said.
Though, others empathized with Michael, with one person writing: "I'm sorry to hear your struggling with this bro! Sending you good vibes of abundance your way!"
One user even suggested Michael get a "real job", to which Michael shared a video in which he discussed how there are certain people who actually rely on delivery drivers, and that some people "need" jobs like delivery drivers as it actually fits around their lives.
When his video began gaining traction on social media, Michael continued to advocate on behalf of those in the food service industry, tweeting: "I am the voice of the foodservice industry workers that deserve respect, proper pay, and better treatment. No one deserves to work, and be paid so little. Especially not in an unprecedented time where the demand for these services is at an all-time high."
He adds: "This spans to different sectors of the industry that aren’t being compensated enough as well. Someone has to do this work. Tips are at the discretion of the consumer. But pay and treatment is at the discretion of the companies, and that is who needs the work."
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