A former Outback worker says staff can get half off meals at sister chains, but there is one tipping rule that can get employees reported

A TikTok user who goes by @breakfastellevensies says she worked at Outback Steakhouse and is sharing perks that most customers never hear about, according to BroBible. Her main claim is that employees who are off shift can get half off meals at any restaurant owned by Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback, and that the discount covers more than one chain.

She says the person an employee brings along also gets half off, and that working just one day a week is enough to qualify. She adds that the discount helped her keep her daughter fed for a time. The catch, according to the former employee, is a tipping rule. “You have to tip 20% off the original bill, or they will report you,” she says.

Bloomin’ Brands owns several casual dining chains, including Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill, which are the kinds of restaurants that the discount would cover if her description is accurate. Employee discount programs differ by company and location, and the TikTok user’s description reflects her own experience rather than an official policy statement.

She also shared menu hacks that she says Outback employees use

The video lists several menu tips, starting with the kids’ meals, which she says are not limited to the kids’ side options. She says a customer can pick a house salad or loaded mashed potatoes. Under the “No Rules, Just Right” policy, she says, a customer can order anything on the menu as long as the kitchen has the ingredients.

She gives examples of what the policy allows, including fresh orange juice, syrups, butter combinations and baked chicken wings in a seasonal sauce. On salads, she says all 17 dressings are made in house. She also says she once ordered two kids’ meals that cost $7 each, with fried chicken strips cut up over a salad, and she says she ordered steak medallions with mashed potatoes.

The former employee says she did not like that Outback steams food in the microwave, and she suggests asking for grilled items instead of steamed ones, such as lobster or fresh vegetables. Her view of the drinks is more positive, as she describes the house margaritas as really good and very cheap. Her comments about the kitchen, however, are her own description and have not been confirmed by the company.

The tipping rule is the part of her description that has drawn the most attention. She says an off duty employee who uses the half off discount is still expected to tip on the original price of the meal, and that staff who skip that step can be reported. The company has not publicly described how any such reporting would work, based on what has been reported so far.

Tipping at Outback has drawn attention in a separate viral story, in which an Outback server’s Cash App request appeared on a note handed to a customer during a meal. The former employee’s tipping rule is a separate matter, as it concerns staff who pay for meals at a discounted rate and not customers.

Outback and Bloomin’ Brands have not publicly responded to the claims, and a press email sent to the parent company about the video drew no reported reply. The creator also did not respond to messages sent by the outlet that first covered the video, so the details of the discount remain her description of how it worked for her.

The details of the discount and the tipping rule remain unconfirmed by the company, and policies can vary by restaurant and location, however, so the benefit may not look the same for every employee.

Attack of the Fanboy was unable to independently verify Outback’s side of the story, as this account originates solely from @breakfastellevensies’ TikTok video.