Kyle Sandilands has argued in favour of Australians adopting US-like tipping habits after investing in a phone tipping app.
Debate over tipping culture has been reignited this week after radio host Kyle Sandilands argued Australia should take a leaf out of the United States’ book.
The KIIS FM shock jock on Monday said customers who received excellent service should put their money where their mouth was and show their gratitude with a tip.
Sandilands recently invested in start-up TapJar – an app allowing people to scan a QR code and tip from their phone.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Sandilands said generous tips should be reserved for workers who were “hot”, entertaining, or had a little extra “pizzazz”.
“You tip like a champion if you are being super served or if the waiter is hot, male or female, or if they are entertaining or have a little pizzazz,” he told the publication.
“Gronks”, on the other hand, should be given nothing, or a passive aggressive one dollar tip, Sandilands said.
“If you are just a gronk with a nose ring and you are throwing down plates of food, you get nothing, zero tip. Or a $1 tip, let your feelings be heard with that $1,” he said.
He added that tips shouldn’t be awarded for menial acts like spraying perfume or holding a door.
“But if someone has gone above and beyond or given you that extra bit of smiley service, I feel you can reward them monetarily, which is the only way we all like to be rewarded,” he said.
In the US, where the minimum wage is far lower than in Australia, customers are expected to leave a tip. A standard option is 15-20 per cent of the total bill.
If a worker’s wage and tip do not amount to the minimum wage of A$10 an hour, the employer must pay staff more to compensate.
Sandilands said he was confident the TapJar app would catch on, particularly as Australia continues its gradual move towards being a cashless society.
Still, he claimed he wasn’t just getting involved hoping to further line his own pockets.
“I wouldn’t get involved just for a monetary reason,” he said.
“I like the underdog, I like to help people get a leg up. Anything that can help bring us back to normal and put some money in hard working people’s pockets that have been missing out, I am all for that.”
The app, created by Sydney couple Fiona and Mick Briggs, went live in March this year.
It was designed to support local businesses, and the hospitality and entertainment industries.
Originally published as Kyle Sandilands wants Aussies to adopt US tipping habits
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