Sandstone Point Hotel’s Sunday surchage leaves diner fuming

An Aussie pub giant has left a diner fuming over a small detail on their receipt, but there are many defending the venue. HAVE YOUR SAY

Sandstone Point Hotel is located north of Brisbane.

Industry experts, business owners and customers have defended Sunday surcharges at hospitality venues after a disgruntled pub patron posted their receipt to social media slamming the move.

The patron, in a now-deleted Facebook post, shared a photo of their receipt from a meal at the Sandstone Point Hotel, asking fellow community members when the venue had started charging a “7.5 per cent Sunday surcharge”.

Menus and signage at the Sandstone Point Hotel, which is owned by hospitality powerhouse Comiskey Group, actually indicate the venue charges a 10 per cent surcharge on Sundays and 15 per cent on public holidays – consistent with other venues across the region.

The receipt from Sandstone Point Hotel showing a 7.5 per cent Sunday surcharge.

The poster received a $4.95 surcharge on top of their $66 meal, which consisted of the venue’s pork belly dish and a chicken baba ghanoush bowl.

Opinions were divided with many commenters slamming the surchargeas a “money grab” and “bullls**t”, while others pointed out that weekend surcharges were necessary to cover penalty rates.

Suresh Manickam, Restaurant and Catering Association CEO, said that surcharges were a “legitimate charge”.

“Typically, these surcharges represent any additional loading that an employer will pay an employee for working on a public holiday (or weekend),” Mr Manickam said.

“Should a restaurant wish to add a surcharge, these surcharges should be clearly displayed to customers before they order, typically they are displayed at the bottom of the restaurant’s menu.”

Sandstone Point Hotel adheres to the industry guidelines for applying weekend and public holiday surcharges, with a large notice in the menu and signs inside the venue as well.

According to Fairwork Australia, casual staff in the hospitality industry must be paid 175 per cent of their standard hourly wage on Sundays, while full-time staff must be paid 150 per cent.

On public holidays, casual staff must be paid 250 per cent of their standard hourly wage and full time staff 225 per cent.

Patrons and industry experts have defended Sandstone Point Hotel’s Sunday surcharge.

In a separate Facebook group, many Brisbane venue owners indicated they charged equivalent surcharges on Sundays and public holidays, citing increased wages.

“I charge a 10 per cent Sunday and 15 per cent public holiday surcharge,” one commenter said.

“It helps with the additional labour costs, but doesn’t cover it by a long shot.”

“My customers understand that if they want me open on these days it needs to make financial sense.”

The topic of surcharges and penalty rates for casual staff has been the subject of many heated debates over the years, as governments battle to phase them in and out, including in recent weeks as a major retail company proposed changes to retail workers’ penalty rates.

The Australian Retail Association, in a submission to Fairwork Australia, proposed allowing some retail staff to opt out of penalty rates, overtime and have reduced rest times in exchange for a 25 per cent pay rise.

The move was backed by both Coles, Woolworths, Kmart and Costco, while the federal government, including Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt, indicated their opposition to the proposal.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has not yet addressed the proposal, though has previously voted against penalty rates. Some groups, including the Queensland Union, have voiced fears that if the Coalition wins this year’s federal election, penalty rates could be at risk across the board, including for hospitality staff.

The Comiskey Group owns and operates eight venues across South East Queensland, including The Eatons Hill Hotel and The Doonan in Noosa, with another three venues to come, and surcharges appear consistent across each.

Sandstone Point Hotel was contacted for comment.