The Bombay Bicycle Club under fire for complaining about public holiday rates

A PUB owner has been called "bourgeois swine" after he went on a very public rant, complaining about public holiday penalty rates.

A PUB and restaurant in Adelaide has come under fire on Facebook after making public its dislike at having to pay workers 2.75 times the ordinary hourly rate of pay on public holidays.

The Bombay Bicycle Club in Ovingham set up a sign at the front of its restaurant outlining just how much it would cost them to open on a public holiday. They multiplied everything on the menu 2.75 times in an attempt to highlight the "stupidity" of the new rate.

The bread would be $19.25 under the cafe's calculations, while lamb korma was $65, salt and pepper squid $55, chicken schnitzel $48.50 and it would be more than $60 for a seafood pizza.

After receiving negative feedback in person, the pub took to Facebook to explain the reasons behind the sign - but the instantaneous backlash forced them to pull the picture, and the sign, after just four hours.

"Here's a quick maths formula. Multiply zero (which equals the amount I will now spend at your establishment) by 2.75 and see what it equals," wrote one person on Facebook.

"Interesting to see that wages make up 100 per cent of your costs. While it must suck to have to compensate people fairly for working when everyone else gets a holiday, it must be nice not to have to pay for rent, insurance, or food," wrote another.

"Pay penalty rates you bourgeois swine!" commented someone after giving the establishment a rating of one star out of five.

"Again, WOW. The sign has been removed. Have read all your comments. I will keep my opinions to myself in future," a worker from Bombay Bicycle Club wrote - but not before news.com.au obtained the original post and the picture.

Just some of the comments the post generated on Facebook.

You can read the post in full below:

"In response to the previous reviews regarding our sign at the front entrance, which was demonstrating how ludicrous a multiple of 2.75 times is when applied to meal costs.

"There has been no disrespect shown to our workers only to the idiots who believe that rates of 2.75 times (over $50 an hour) are justified and are sustainable by any business. We have no respect for those that are never happy and always want more. Fortunately our respected and valued employees are not in this group.

"I can only imagine how much you would scream if you were charged rates of this multiple for anything. Imagine going to the movies for $49.50 a ticket on a public holiday or a $30 taxi ride costing $82.50 or a ticket to the footy costing $84.00. Just who is showing disrespect here?

"We will continue to provide excellent working conditions and secure employment for all our staff and will continue to pay them as per the award. We do however believe we have a right to an opinion and we are not looking forward to this part of the new award coming in.

"And yes many venues will close on Public Holidays when this happens as many restaurants in Adelaide already do because they are already on this award. And visit Melbourne on a public holiday, but check who's open. Not many. Remember that this new award replaces a successful one that all employees have been happy with for a long time.

"It is the employees that will now get different lower rates under the new award depending on which days and nights they work, many being disadvantaged by this as wage rates during the week will reduce by 30 per cent. So by all means don't come back, and by all means complain about us pointing out the stupidity of a rate 2.75 times the norm but please don't insinuate disrespect by us to our employees. Our employees work here because they want to not because they have to."

What do you think of the Bombay Bicycle Club's stance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.