Public Holiday Surcharge Yeh or Nah

Trying2SaveABuck on 26/01/2023 - 21:45
Last edited 28/01/2023 - 15:42

These surcharges are fairly common at local cafe's and restaurants however what thing i have started to ask the staff is 'do they get paid more money' to my surprise a few of the staff have said no they actually are getting the same rate….and thus has me questioning the surcharge and why would i have to pay more if the staff are not being paid more.

now i am a believer of the free market restaurants can 'charge what they want' that doesn't mean people will it and if a establishment wants to put on a Surcharge they can as long as it is clearly disclosed before ordering.

my question is how do people here feel about surcharges and should it be more found upon if the staff are getting no benefit or is that just a free market….

Poll Options

  • 12
    I'm happy to pay PH surcharge
  • 240
    I'm against surcharges on PH of any kind
  • 540
    I'm happy to pay only if the staff are paid more
Food & Grocery

Comments

  • KaTst3R on 27/01/2023 - 09:50
    +4

    A restaurant in Crows Nest once tried to charge me a 10% PH surcharge on 31 December. I called them out loudly at the counter and the boss quickly amended the bill after realising the she was caught scamming customers. But imagine all the people who dined before me getting hit by a false surcharge without checking the bill.

    • bobbified on 27/01/2023 - 10:07
      +1

      Reminds me of this thread > https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/728193 about Epicurean in Crown (Sydney).

      • KaTst3R on 27/01/2023 - 10:32
        +3

        Applying a PH charge on the day before a PH is next level. Essentially you just doubled the number of PH you can charge in a year. But no one knows if they are paying staff similarly.

        • bobbified on 27/01/2023 - 10:40
          +3

          Applying a PH charge on the day before a PH is next level.

          That's on top of the Sunday surcharge as well!

    • p3nf0ld on 27/01/2023 - 17:49

      Depends on the state.
      I think South Australia and Northern Territory have it right. New years eve is a part-day public holiday for New Year’s Eve from 7 pm to 12 midnight in these states. I think this should be the same for the rest of Australia.

    • DarkOz on 29/01/2023 - 10:09

      I had the opposite experience from one of our customers whom demanded for the cheaper public holiday pricing when it wasn't a public holiday. It was one of those days between a Christmas long weekend additional days Monday/Tuesday and New Year's Day. She called me out for scamming her and refused to pay the normal rate. I assured her that it wasn't a public holiday and that I wish it was as I would get paid double time and a half instead of normal rate. She refused to listen and in the end threated to report it to Fair Trading or ASIC as I suggested her to do. Never heard from her again since.

  • pharkurnell on 27/01/2023 - 09:50
    +5

    how about this for holiday rates

    Staff at a major hospitality group allege they were terminated and then rehired by a different entity right before Australia Day to avoid penalty rates.

    https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/major-hospitali…

    • bobbified on 27/01/2023 - 09:56
      +1

      What a-holes they are! They probably employ a lot of immigrant workers who they thought wouldn't say anything. Glad that someone did!

      • pharkurnell on 27/01/2023 - 09:57
        +1

        was thinking the same thing…

  • Seraphin7 on 27/01/2023 - 10:04
    +1

    I'm not down with PH surcharges and accordingly generally avoid cafes/restaurants, etc. on such days.

  • Clear on 27/01/2023 - 10:06
    +7

    Had a cafe ask me if I wanted to tip after telling me about the 15% surcharge. They were offended when I asked if they still don't get paid enough after that surcharge.

    That's the bigger crime. Trying to introduce the American tipping culture.

  • JimB on 27/01/2023 - 10:18
    +1

    As someone who spends on average $20k a year eating out, I purposely avoid restaurants that have a public holiday or Sunday surcharge where I can.

    I'm happy to visit them on Monday to Sat and non public holiday.

    I also take cash with me just in case there's a CC surcharge lol

    We ate out yesterday, just a place we were driving past. Forgot about the public holiday surcharge and fortunately there wasn't one when went to pay the bill.

    Shout out to Old Kingdom in Richmond.. the peking duck was very pleasant (not so much the Surrey Hills branch). Cash only but didn't carry it yesterday but you can pay via bank transfer! lol

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 27/01/2023 - 10:40
      +3

      FYI

      Most CC surcharge are under 2 percent assuming you spend less the 100 on a meal the hack is to use the HSBC tap and go

      i found this to be a great way to avoid carrying cash but that is just me

      • JimB on 27/01/2023 - 10:42

        Sounds good.. I never even knew about this.

  • Richmond Tigers on 27/01/2023 - 11:00

    Hey you all shouldn't be going out enjoying a meal. You should be taking to the streets in outrage over this sacrilegious day. /s

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/01/2023 - 11:04
    +3

    Imagine working for Mantle?

    Mantle Group sacked hundreds of casuals across 15 venues on Monday before immediately rehiring them with a different entity, less than two weeks after the Fair Work Commission had reverted the group’s staff back to the award’s full penalty rates.
    The new entity, KGS Staff Pty Ltd, engages employees under a 2019 agreement that does not pay weekend penalties and its letters of offer, sent before Australia Day, includes an opt-out condition that staff swap their public holiday rates for other days.

    Venues include:-
    *James Squire brew house,
    *The Squire’s Landing on Sydney Harbour,
    *Brisbane CBD restaurant Jimmy’s On the Mall,
    *Pig N Whistle pub chain
    * and More

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 27/01/2023 - 11:07

      Imagine doing this in one of the biggest labour shortages we have ever seen…..

      crazy

      I feel for the workers, but that is business….

      One big credit i give Yanks over us is they have almost no loyalty to work places - if the conditions and money are not up to standard workers leave

    • Xistn on 27/01/2023 - 11:10
      +2

      Adds them too my boycott list, and boy it's growing.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/01/2023 - 11:40

        And James Squire is an 'upmarket' brand, and I a assume the other places are.
        If you can't read the Articles BTW, due to a Paywall, just search 'bypass paywall magnolia'. Works best on Windows/MacOS (Android is a bit tricky. Unsure about IOS, as I haven't tried yet).

  • kekw on 27/01/2023 - 11:29
    +1

    I simply walk away from restaurant with surcharge on PH.

  • leiiv on 27/01/2023 - 11:30
    +1

    We need a wiki page that lists all places without PH surcharge. Do we have it already? I could not find it but it could be well hidden.

    I would rather they put the PH price as normal price, and give discounts on non-PH days, or any days they want.

    • JimB on 27/01/2023 - 12:27

      "I would rather they put the PH price as normal price, and give discounts on non-PH days, or any days they want."

      I'm not a fan of surcharges but isn't the above a surcharge in all but name?

      • BartholemewH on 29/01/2023 - 09:04
        +1

        Yes, and a nonsensical wadi of going about it.

      • leiiv on 29/01/2023 - 11:50
        +1

        Any private businesses can set pricing to any amount as they wish it to be. However, with the surcharge it is often being done in a sneaky way. Sign with small fonts, sign only in front of counter, noticeable only when paying, no sign at all and verbally affirm the surcharge just before paying, etc.
        It's about expectation. If instead of surcharge, they give discount, they will most likely put up big signage of the discount, and the psychological effect is different.

  • trapper on 27/01/2023 - 12:08

    A customer should be able to clearly see the actual price of an item without needing to do any extra math of their own.

    If they want to charge different prices on different days, then they should have different menus.

  • Poor Ass on 27/01/2023 - 12:13

    Eating fast food on a public holiday is a tradition in Australia… except for those that have a surcharge like Guzman

  • Nalar on 27/01/2023 - 13:56
    +1

    So how does a 10% surcharge every day work like with The Bavarian chain?

  • nobro25 on 27/01/2023 - 14:52

    What about Sunday surcharge? I think coz employees get paid a penalty on Sunday rate. But based on what some people are saying the businesses should absorb these costs.

  • kaleidoscope on 27/01/2023 - 14:57
    -1

    Yeah nah. They should factor the cost of running business and average it out instead of praying on the customers. If running costs for your business doesnt change (cost if materials, electricity, internet, etc) be it public holiday or not, you must not ask special rates from the customer on such days either.

    • p3nf0ld on 27/01/2023 - 17:53

      Don't like the idea of praying on customers.
      But the running costs do increase due to having to pay the staff 2 to 2.5 times normal wages.

      • kaleidoscope on 27/01/2023 - 18:49

        running costs do increase due to having to pay the staff 2 to 2.5 times normal wages

        This is the part I said about averaging comes to play. Because the decision for having your services available on public holiday(s) doesnt happen day before.

        • p3nf0ld on 27/01/2023 - 19:03

          Yep so this is why business have to charge extra. It's the same reason why some restaurants offer Christmas lunch for $$$.

          What if I said to you that you had to work Christmas Day at your average rate would that be ok?

          • kaleidoscope on 27/01/2023 - 19:22

            @p3nf0ld:

            What if I said to you that you had to work Christmas Day at your average rate would that be ok?

            I think you misunderstood the whole thing. Here is a very crude example.

            Average dish costs $10 to the customer and on average you serve 200 customers a day. Your revenue would be about $2000. From that assume you pay $1000 in wages each day.
            Now, imagine the current month has 20 days the shop is opened and 1 of those is a public holiday and you pay staff double on that day.

            So for the total of the month, expected customers 200x20 = 4000
            Extra wages to pay on holiday = $1000
            If you were to price adjust your dish, it would $1000/4000 = $0.25.

            With averaging you can charge the customer $10.25 everyday and still cover the double you pay to staff without any loss.

            This is just an example to explain the idea behind it.

            • ozbargainsam on 27/01/2023 - 22:09
              +1

              @kaleidoscope: This is unusually naive. There are many reasons why this won't work, but the easiest argument against it is: you're taxing customers who shop on normal days. Maybe they never eat there on a PH, but they've been paying for it anyway. It removes choice from the customer because they can't opt out of it.

              Examples:
              - instead of CC surcharge, just average it out and make even cash have a surcharge
              - why charge kids less for entry? Just charge the same for kids and adults by making a kid's entry a lot more expensive
              - why even have different prices for anything. Just take the weighted average of everything in your shop. Big breakfast? Not $25, $10 instead. Coffee? $10. Small cookie? $10.

  • May4th on 27/01/2023 - 16:47
    +1

    isn't it to offset the penalty rates under award - you have to pay staff double on PHs so the business pass on the cost. you can vote with feet whether you want to pay that extra

    • sss333 on 27/01/2023 - 16:57

      Domino's used to charge a surcharge back when drivers didn't get penalty rates, only $2 extra per delivery, they do now though.

  • Dack Smith on 27/01/2023 - 17:07
    +1

    As long as staff are paid much more, then yes.

    We all have a responsibility to make sure people are paid properly, so weekends and public holidays should be at least triple time - and it should be reflected in the surcharge.

    If people don’t like the surcharge and don’t like to see hospitality workers compensated for their hours, then stay away.

    • AustriaBargain on 27/01/2023 - 21:29
      +1

      We all have a responsibility to make sure people are paid properly,

      Nope. It's the employer's responsibility.

    • thanatos350 on 27/01/2023 - 22:52

      OP said that he asked staff, who indicated that they weren't being paid more. This is pretty poor form, in my opinion.

      I am happy to pay a surcharge for the cafes and other places I visit, but if it wasn't going toward the staff I'd feel sort of scammed, tbh.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2023 - 08:34
        +1

        It should be illegal. It used to be, our wage laws have been gutted, but nobody cares when penalty rates are deleted from the award.

  • liongalahad on 27/01/2023 - 20:40

    In my opinion it should actually be illegal to surcharge the client if staff is paid the same. What's the excuse for the surcharge??

  • avseqcfc on 27/01/2023 - 23:09
    -1

    You want to go out on a public holiday but that 10 percent is making your teeth sweat ?
    Stay home and go have your chicken parmi next day.

  • dufflover on 28/01/2023 - 00:28

    I previously wouldn't bother with any plenty with a surcharge but they are getting so common I just swallow it these days and adjust my budgeting accordingly.

    Not just PH surcharge but so often now it's 10% Sat's and 15% Sun's. And if it's not because of what I assumed were to cover the higher wage costs then it does leave an extra sour taste when forking out for it.

  • Kranbone on 28/01/2023 - 03:51

    If there is a surcharge I really hope it goes to the staff. I would've thought the extra increase in traffic/turnover would cover the overheads.

  • RefusdClassification on 28/01/2023 - 06:09

    People aren't any more productive on weekends or holidays, so they should not be paid any more. Perhaps their hourly wage should be lifted, but there should be no weekend/public holiday penalty rates. It is just another day. Penalty rates for graveyard shift is different though since it is unnatural for people to sleep during the day and work at night.

  • NotAnAudiophile on 28/01/2023 - 07:55
    +2

    This is rubbish. Public holiday surcharges don’t exist in Asia.

  • bigbadboogieman on 28/01/2023 - 08:57

    Instead they should up their prices and offer discounts on working days.

  • Willy Beamish on 28/01/2023 - 12:35
    -1

    Surcharges are a scam businesses try to push to make more money, that's it.

  • Kremleen on 28/01/2023 - 18:14

    I work for a bar in Melbourne CBD and even though I don't get anything more than awards, they have midnight surcharge, Saturday surcharge, Sunday surcharge, public holiday surcharge, and credit card surcharge that makes an Absolut vodka lime soda on a midnight weekend $17. What a joke!

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2023 - 08:36
      +1

      If they could pay you $9/hr they would, the drink would still be $17. There is no connection between the retail price of goods and workers wages.

      I bet the rent on the bar went up 3% last year, how much is that, $8000 per month? More? But it's always the workers blamed when food is expensive right?

  • Al09 on 28/01/2023 - 18:20

    We got charged surcharge on a few places in chinatown food court and a few take away places on new year day 1/1/23 which was a on Sunday.

    One of them didnt even put a sign up .

    So Nah… Just a rort trying to get as much money or BS as the they want.

    Food and stuff already skyrocketing everywhere.

    And they wonder why we stop eating out amd hospitality business are dying.

    So many BS charges nowadays.

    Some charges group bookings as well.

    Watch out ..

    • clover on 01/02/2023 - 22:07

      Yeah, I don’t understand group booking surcharge. What is the logic? We bring more customers and got charged extra for that?

  • kiwimex on 28/01/2023 - 18:28

    Surcharges are almost as criminal as charging for a sauce sachet with a meat pie or sausage roll.

  • Al09 on 28/01/2023 - 19:02

    That is one other thing why cant these cafes or bakery just have one of the big bottle of sauces for meat pies or sausage rolls.

    They arent that expensive. Its a daylight robbery for charging 50c for a squirt…

    Its on special almost every month $3 for 2l @ coles or woolies

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 28/01/2023 - 19:14

      for what it is worth i agree with you

      however same thing with Soy sauce on the sushi - it is the convenient to have a small throw away sauce packet

      • BartholemewH on 29/01/2023 - 09:14

        I've never paid for soy sauce with sushi. I hope this isn't a thing.

  • BusMan247 on 28/01/2023 - 22:02

    I went into crystal car wash for an auto wash. That’s 4mins of water and soap barely any labour.. then they tried to drop me with the “10% for holiday surcharge”.

    It’s a robot that cleans the car FFS. Drove out never going back. Went down to dee why did it myself for $10.

    • cunningdrew on 29/01/2023 - 16:19

      Wait. Who is they? Was it a person who told you so? If so, then yep surcharge is normal.

  • Ciderfizz44 on 28/01/2023 - 22:36

    Nup, I don't eat out on PHs for this reason. Have seen up to 15-20% in recent years..

  • duluxe2000 on 29/01/2023 - 02:46

    I don't like Surcharge as much as I don't like toll roads/vip tickets at theme parks. But they exist for a reason: to
    segregate customers, those who are willing to pay more to get most convenience n those who want to save money.

    So I accept it as a fact.

    • johndoe789 on 29/01/2023 - 10:32

      Then have a different pricing menu for PH. Surcharge shouldn't exists as it borders on drip pricing.

      • drfuzzy on 29/01/2023 - 13:10

        It's not drip pricing if it's clearly stated on the window/menu before you walk in the door.

  • drfuzzy on 29/01/2023 - 13:09
    +1

    Surcharge is a better system than tipping.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 29/01/2023 - 19:32

      i think the mass agree with you but i prefer the tipping system in the US - at least if the service is not 'good' you can not tip or only tip 5 cents

  • Al09 on 29/01/2023 - 13:34
    +1

    The problem is nowadays theres a lot of businesses havent got a clear sign before you go in.

    It seems to be a normal thing these days ….. Shifty and dirty practice …

    • cunningdrew on 29/01/2023 - 16:18

      Yes and no. If it's a public holiday and you get a 10% surcharge it's pretty standard fair. If you're not happy with a surcharge or unsure if there is one, probably ask before you sit down.

  • cunningdrew on 29/01/2023 - 16:17

    Happy to pay so long as staff are paid penalty rates.

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