A photo taken inside a KFC store in Sydney has sparked controversy. Heated online debate,
The picture shows a large tip jar decorated with butterflies placed on the counter of the fast food chain.
The box appears to have been intended to encourage customers to leave money for staff while waiting for their order.
The act has divided opinion online, with many saying they are “fed up” with it American tipping culture He said Australia was being taken over and this needed to be stopped.
“I really can't help thinking that if we succumb to the tipping culture we will move towards the American system and we will see their game falling apart,” said one.
Another asked: “How did tipping culture enter Australia?”
However, others believed it did no harm and pointed out that many cafes have tip jars available without any problems.
“Actually, I don't see any difference between this and a cafe tip jar. Franchise, cafe, whatever,” said one.
Many were quick to point out that there was a marked difference between the wages paid to workers in the US and Australia.
While these aren’t the highest-paid jobs in the country, hospitality workers’ pay is generally considered good compared to the US, where the minimum wage is around AU$10 per hour.
However, the minimum wage in Australia is around $21 per hour depending on age.
Therefore, tipping culture in the US is much more stringent, while many people believe it is unnecessary in Australia.
news.com.au has contacted KFC for comment.
Increase in tipping
A recent tipping trend report from financial services and payment solutions platform Zeller found that Australians are tipping more than ever before.
According to the report, not only has the average tip increased by 12 per cent since 2022, from $16.05 to $17.93, but Australians are also tipping more often, and tip amounts have increased by 132 per cent.
Melburnians are more generous than Sydneysiders, adding an average of $18.57 to their total bill, compared to $11.81.
Zellers' development director, Joshua McNicol, told news.com.au the result was “amazing”.
“Given the rising cost of living and the economic pressures on consumers, despite interest rate pressures, the average tip value is up 12 per cent year-on-year, which certainly surprised us,” he said.
“People are going out less because of the rising cost of living [but] Want a luxurious experience of sitting down and eating at a restaurant?
“The desire to reward amazing service or a great experience hasn’t changed, but perhaps the frequency of doing so has changed… it shows we still have a sense of generosity and overall community.”
The Zeller data also revealed some interesting things.
The average tip amount for the hospitality sector increased by 11 per cent overall, but tip amounts for bar and club staff fell by 23 per cent, with the average tip now sitting at $10.21, while tip amounts for coffee shops fell by 19 per cent to $2.94.
Sit-down restaurants and takeaway eateries are seeing the biggest increases, with fares rising 8 per cent to $19.98 and 6 per cent to $7.52, respectively.
