Thanks for all the feedback and to those who have read my
blog having experienced a public holiday surcharge.
Link from January 28: Public Holiday Surcharges – for or against?
There seems to be an overriding feeling that the surcharge
is wrong and gouging customers. There are two sides to every story of course
and I understand the costs of opening a business, as one comment made it clear “If you
are going to go broke paying your staff extra, then perhaps you should rethink
your business model ..or work yourself”
This blog is and never was a complaint, merely an observation
and discussion point, to those saying (and comments from others), I am
complaining, or don’t work public holidays, think again. I worked public
holidays and regular weekends for most of my 47 years of almost continuous
employment. Many of which were for
standard pay, just part of the job.
There is a case for staff to arrange an amicable agreement
with employers and work on a permanent part time scenario. Provided both are
agreeable and staff are looked after, I say, no problem and indeed no
surcharge.
Talking with business owners, the positive ones anyway, it
is hard enough to gain traction from people with “long pockets and short arms”,
why make it harder by charging a surcharge, and shortening the arm further!
If a business cannot build in any increased costs to the
overall (long term) business plan, should they be in business at all, was a
question asked by some.
In the retail photographic trade, I knew that I needed a
certain number of rolls of film to develop each day in order to cover the costs
of starting up the machinery. Some days in winter I would not make that number,
(unless it snowed!), in school holidays and after big events, I would easily
make the number and many more. Over the year it worked out above the break even
line, so I survived. It’s all about good
financial planning. What you can measure
you can manage was one piece of advice I will never forget and applied to my
business ventures.
In conclusion then
feedback and comments so far include the following:-
If you are going to go
broke paying your staff extra (remember they’d rather be with family ) then
perhaps you should rethink your business model ..or work yourself ..
And I bet all of you
complaining don't work public holidays and don't think those that do deserve
extra pay...
Am surprised cafes in
a tourist town would be closed on a warm public holiday when there's likely to
be lots of visitors around. But on the other hand, they do have to pay holiday
penalty rates to staff, and depending how many staff are required, they may not
break even.
Public surcharge is
wrong! I don’t go back if a business has a surcharge. You either want the
business or you don’t. But don’t make it more expensive for the public
I went out to dinner
on a public holiday recently and the restaurant had a large sign on the counter
saying 10% surcharge today and a smiley face !! What is the smiley about? That
we have to pay more? We thought it was tacky !
The Central Hotel in
Lakes surprised me with the same thing last year. Surcharge on both food and
drinks bought over the bar !!! Mnnnnnn...place
was full, minimal staffing, they were raking it in !!
As you say as
consumers demand a life of 24/7.... I don't know if a small business can afford
to wear the additional cost of opening on a public holiday, and by that I mean
wages for staff, some staff are paid penalties for working a public holiday and
rightly so... they are giving up a day/night with their family or friends so
you can enjoy a cup of coffee... if a small 10% surcharge is added to cover
additional cost, why whinge? Yes...
they are busy and so must staff accordingly...so a higher wage bill....Just
think how much it cost to open the door in the first place...I'm happy to pay
the 10%
Thanks for providing a discussion point, perhaps it may have
rung a few bells, I hope so.
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