You/your friend should know better than to expect ethics from the hospitality industry.

Assuming a line cook makes 20 an hour, which is high, that means your “friend” is owed $180 bucks. Closer to $140 after taxes.

Youll likely spend more time in this thread than your friend did at work, and neither of you will ever be compensated.

Fact is, hospitality is toxic and this is a $180 sign of gratitude that they don’t have to work for that EC.