‘I just found a way to cheat the system’: Server shares the secret trick that earned his co-worker $60 from one table

A server in Ohio found a clever way to get bigger tips by complete accident. His coworker made $60 in just 20 minutes after he yelled “Happy birthday!” as a joke.

This discovery could be a game-changer for anyone working in restaurants right now. The man behind this trick is TikToker Zaddy, who shared his story in a video that got over 291,000 views. He was sitting in his car during lunch break at Longhorn Steakhouse when he realized what had happened.

Zaddy explained in his TikTok video that he was joking around when he walked past his coworker Leah, who was taking an order from a table with two people. He shouted, “Bye, Leah. Happy birthday!” She played along and said “Thank you” without breaking character.

The birthday trick works because customers feel guilty

Zaddy went to eat his lunch, but just 20 minutes later, Leah called him. She said his joke helped her get a $60 tip from that same table. Zaddy’s reaction says it all: “Oh my god, I am so doing that forever now.”

There’s actual psychology behind why this works so well. Many servers on social media say they’ve used the birthday method for a long time. Customers feel bad when they see a server working on their birthday, so they leave much bigger tips. It’s a simple trick that clearly works.

This idea isn’t new either. Servers have been using birthday tricks for years. One server said on Reddit that wearing a birthday badge makes people tip more. Another person worked at a busy restaurant bar and would loudly tell their coworker, “Man, it sucks that you have to work on your birthday!” 

Servers who did this often made three times more than bar staff. One Hooters server even made over $600 by working on her actual birthday, showing just how well birthday shifts can boost earnings.

Some servers get creative if they don’t want to lie about birthdays. The trick is to make it seem like you’re working toward something important or making a big sacrifice. One server joked they’ve been “saving for their wedding” for three seasons just to get better tips. Another said they work on Mother’s Day and tell customers their kids are waiting at home.

You need to be careful with this trick though. One person said they’d worry about regular customers noticing it’s been their birthday “like 6 times this year.” This could be risky if you work at a local spot with the same customers. 

The method probably works best in places with lots of tourists, like Las Vegas, where customers won’t remember you. Restaurant workers face plenty of challenges on the job, from strict workplace policies to customer interactions, so finding creative ways to boost tips can make a real difference.