Comments on: Tipping Bus Drivers Would be Nuts

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:33:03 +0000

Working in the construction industry I have to say their shifts arn’t that bad. Reguarly would I work from 7:00am to 5:00pm then continue to work night shift from 9:00pm to 3:00am then back at work from 9:30am to 5:00pm. You do what you have to to get work done. Mind you I work in an industry where putting in the odd 60 – 80hr week is not unusual. I do agree there shift work should be reduced and even tossed if possible but if I was them I wouldn’t be complaining.

By: Clark

Clark — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:32:12 +0000

Intergated/Smart ticketing.
When this comes in it will make their job much more easier.
Fast, straight on-and-off service.

By: DXFanboi

DXFanboi — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:06:51 +0000

The split shift thing is wrong and Im surprised it doesnt lead to more accidents. Imagine starting early in the morning and back doing the peak night shift.
Let alone what it does for your family life.

By: George D

George D — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:29:40 +0000

The other problem is that employers start to pay their employees less, because they take into account the tipping. In the US, this is consistently the case.

Auckland bus drivers are underpaid. Their base rate works out to about $10 per hour when split shifts are taken into account. It is a skilled, high responsibility job.

If we want better service, we should allow them less split shifts (which were only introduced in the last decade), more buses (so that drivers have more time to deal with customers and don’t have to hurry them) and more realistic timetabling (so they don’t have to drive like racecar drivers to avoid lateness and the penalties it incurs).

By: Worried

Worried — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:51:31 +0000

I agree completely with Joshua.
Bus drivers are at the bottom end of the labour market and many struggle to speak English so I assume are immigrants and this may be their first job here, like taxi drivers.
Their job is to take you from point A to B and there is no need to further reward them.
Overall they are polite and helpful but tipping them won’t make them drive better or change their work habits.
Anyway some of us don’t carry small change anymore but use Eftpos or on the buses GoRider cards.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:39:06 +0000

I have to disagree that bus drivers are under paid. In fact for what they do they are more likely to be over paid and in my opinion should feel grateful they are employed with a relatively high wage for the amount of work they do. I have ridden on many buses in Auckland and overseas, when comparing to overseas we do have an appalling customer service. The drivers here (the majority with exception) don’t make you feel welcome but rather the opposite, like you were an inconvenience to them. Although I agree that tipping would somewhat improve the drivers customer service it’s not the right route. Maybe they should be regularly audited by the companies like most people on their high wage rate would be. If not up to standard see ya later. Harsh but that’s how it works in real life.

By: Bill Bennett

Bill Bennett — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:12:00 +0000

The problem with tipping, especially in the US, is that it can become a form of extortion. And people feel they have to pay it whether or not they receive decent service.

It’s not something we should encourage in New Zealand in any context.