More on public holiday surcharges - your comments

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”

On the other hand, should you be recompensed for working on a public holiday? Perhaps if the job is in the hospitality and/or tourism business, working on those days is just part of the business and some business deal with it in that way. A regular part of the job is after normal hours, on weekends and on public holidays, if you don’t like it , don’t take the job.

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.