Debate erupts after a Sydney KFC puts out a tip jar

One single detail in a photo taken inside a Sydney KFC has sparked a heated debate.

A single image snapped inside a Sydney KFC store has sparked a heated online debate.

The picture appears to show a large tip jar decorated with butterflies sitting on the counter of the fast food chain.

The tin seemingly meant to encourage customers to leave money for staff while waiting for their orders.

The act has divided opinion online, with many sharing they were “fed up” with US tipping culture taking over Australia and that it should be stopped.

“I really can’t help but think if we succumb to tipping culture we will hurtle towards an American system and we can see that their shiz is falling apart,” one said.

“How on earth did tipping culture sneak its way into Australia?” another asked.

However, others believed it did not cause any harm and pointed out that many cafes have tip jars without any issues.

The decorated jar sparked a heated debate online. Picture: Reddit

“To be honest it’s a little more personal than being asked during the order process in an app,” one said, referencing how food delivery apps encourage a tip at checkout.

“There have been tip jars in cafes for as long as I can remember,” another pointed out.

“At its heart, I don’t see any difference between this and a cafe tip jar. Franchise, cafe, whatever,” one said.

Many were quick to point out the obvious differences between how much workers get paid in the US compared to Australia.

While not the highest-paid jobs in the country, the wages for hospitality staff are generally considered decent compared to the US, where the minimum wage is about AU$10 an hour.

The minimum wage in Australia, however, is around $21 an hour, depending on age.

Therefore, tipping culture is far more stardard in the States, whereas many feel it is unnecessary here in Australia.

News.com.au has reached out to KFC for comment.

The tip jar was spotted inside a Sydney KFC. Picture: iStock

Tipping on the rise

A recent tipping trends report from financial services and payment solution platform Zeller found that Australians are tipping more than ever before.

According to the report, not only has the average tip grown 12 per cent since 2022, rising from $16.05 to $17.93, Australians are also tipping more frequently, with the volume of tips increasing by 132 per cent.

Melburnians tend to be more generous than Sydneysiders, adding an average of $18.57 to the total bill compared to $11.81.

Zeller’s director of growth, Joshua McNicol, described the result to news.com.au as “surprising”.

“Given the rising cost of living and economic pressures on consumers, the average value of tips increasing by 12 per cent year-on-year – despite interest rate pressures – was one that definitely caught us off guard,” he said.

Tipping culture is not as widespread in Australia as it is in the US. Picture: iStock

“With your cost of living increase, people are going out less often [but] looking for a great experience at a sit-down restaurant.

“The willingness to reward amazing service or great experience hasn’t changed, but potentially the frequency they’re doing it has changed … It shows that we still have a sense of generosity and community overall.”

The Zeller data also reveals some interesting quirks.

Average tip amounts for the hospitality sector overall have risen 11 per cent, but bar and club staff saw a 23 per cent decline with the average tip now $10.21, while tips for coffee shops slid 19 per cent to $2.94.

Sit-down restaurants and takeaway eateries are seeing the most gains, experiencing an eight per cent increase to $19.98 and a six per cent rise to $7.52 respectively.