Aussie KFC tip jar sparks heated online debate: ‘Hurtle towards an American system’

A single image taken inside a Sydney KFC outlet has sparked a heated debate online.

The photo appears to show a large butterfly-topped jar sitting on the fast food chain’s counter.

The tin was apparently intended to encourage customers to leave cash for staff while they waited for their orders.

The act has divided opinion online, with many sharing that they are “fed up” with the US tipping culture that has taken over Australia and that it must stop.

“I really can’t help but think that if we succumb to the tipping culture, we’re headed for an American system and we could see their cheesy crumble,” said one.

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

However, others believed it caused no harm and pointed out that many coffee shops have tip jars without any problems.

“Basically, I don’t see any difference between this and a coffee shop tip jar. Franchise, cafe, whatever,” said one.

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

Although not the highest paying jobs in the country, wages for hospitality staff are generally considered good compared to the US, where the minimum wage is around AU$10 an hour.

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

Therefore, tipping culture is much more standard in the United States, while many feel it is unnecessary here in Australia.

News.com.au has contacted KFC for comment.

Tipping in increments

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

According to the report, not only has the average tip increased 12 per cent since 2022, rising from $16.05 to $17.93, Australians are also tipping more often, 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 growth director Joshua McNicol described the result to news.com.au as “stunning”.

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

“As the cost of living increases, people go out less often [but] looking for a great sit-down restaurant experience.

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

Zeller’s data also reveal some interesting features.

Average tip amounts for the hospitality sector overall are up 11 percent, but bar and club staff saw a 23 percent drop with the average tip now $10.21, while tips for cafes fell 19 percent to $2.94 dollars.

Sit-down restaurants and takeout are seeing the biggest gains, experiencing an eight percent increase to $19.98 and a six percent increase to $7.52 respectively.