weekend penalty rates?

admin

Ok this is potentially a big one - what do we think of the Productivity Commission's view that Sunday rates should be around 125% of weekday rates [ie like Saturdays] rather than approx 175% as they are currently?

Link to a review of the report from the Age: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/sunday-rates-aside-the-productivity-commission-finds-we-set-wages-pretty-well-20151220-gls1ox.html

Brett H

Easy fix.... Charge extra on weekends to pay staff more!  I'd gladly pay the extra knowing that I was spending within my local community keeping jobs and growth going.  It all comes back to me eventually through better community, better lifestyles. Am I alone in my thinking?

bcspark

No

Koffee_Kosmo

Finding staff that want to work on the weekend is a challenge in any business KK

Brett H

I don't doubt it KK but that's why we should pay a bit extra.  If we want to be a global 24/7 economy then we need to have staff willing to work those shifts.

Lwowiak

This is a complex matter, and is typical of our current gutless govt led by the almighty waffler. It is all politics, and rather than make a decision, they are waffling on as usual, hoping to diffuse the fallout this discussion will create. On one hand you will have the lefties and the unions saying that the worker is hard done by and the rich business owners are raking in fortunes. On the other hand you will have reality, where the huge cost of doing business in Australia is hampering growth. People in retail clothing stores only earn time and a half on Sunday, not double. The issue is the high cost of property in Australia. We have had a ridiculous boom where property values have increased way beyond affordability. Commercial property has also increased. This means shop rents are huge and the cost of living is also high. Hence there will always be pressure on wages to be high, which in turn means that the hospitality industry has to charge high prices to compensate. Business is hard and will get tougher. The moronic unions are claiming a stasis of milk and honey, but as TURC has proven, they are nothing but crooks with no understanding of what business is about. Fact is, we have to move towards a user pays system. If you want to go out on a Sunday, you have to pay for the privilege. A 20% surcharge is realistic. I have no qualms paying this, as I have worked weekends in the past, and it does affect family life. To all who rally for penalty rates to remain, I hope you are the same ones who will gladly pay the surcharge. I know that many will say that the business can afford it, but those same people have no idea about Economics or Accounting. Another way is to simply raise your prices to compensate for the costs. Many businesses that are doing well, have upped their charges and still remain busy, especially if their food, beverages and service are top notch. Finding good staff is difficult, the true cost of hiring and training (and retaining) workers is huge, and the hospitality industry has a massive turnover of staff. Moving forward, with extended trading hours, staffing is going to be a big issue. On the Gold Coast, the major shopping centres, Robina and Pacific Fair, will soon be allowed to trade until 10pm every night. That applies to all stores in the centre. I wonder when banks will open longer, they make heaps of money, but do not service their customers properly.

borat123

As a contrast, over here service staff work a 6 day / 48hr week. At certain times of the year the shopping malls are open 24/7...

LeroyC

So you guys that support a 'user pays' system are happy to pay extra at every business that's open on the weekend? Really? Everything? That's a huge list - public transport, taxis, every small retail store, service stations, supermarkets, large retail like Bunnings and Harvey Norman, activities like zoos and amusement parks. The list goes on and that's before you even get to hospitality. I'm not saying it's not ok, but if it's ok for one industry then it should be for others too.

Brett H

Effectively... Yes!  I'm not your typical weekend shopper however and tend to be a bit of a home-body; but nonetheless, hand on my heart if businesses need a surcharge I'd pay it and already do any certain food places here in Brisbane that add 10% on a Sunday.

askthecoffeeguy

In my experience customers just won't pay a surcharge you either build the price into your menu structure or else just avoid it altogether. That is here in Vic at lesst. I'm know other states manage this better because more businesses are doing it so bill shock is less of an issue