A 3% surcharge for employee benefits and retention appeared on a traveler's receipt for a $21.99 book at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Here's what to know
According to a Reddit post, the receipt from Bryant Park Market inside JFK showed roughly $2 in taxes in addition to the surcharge.
"A 3% surcharge has been applied to your purchase," a note on the receipt read. "This charge is for employee and retention programs and is not a gratuity."
For the $21.99 book, the fee came to about 66 cents.
As TikToker Bryce Gruber (@brycegruber) noted, the Hudson-operated business had not clearly posted notice of the fee, and she questioned whether customers were adequately informed.
Gruber also said she asked employees at a similar airport store whether they received special programs or benefits associated with the surcharge, to which they replied "no."
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More background
The Port Authority permits airport concession businesses under its jurisdiction to collect a surcharge of up to 3% for "Employee Benefits and Retention," according to BroBible.
According to Inc., the policy was intended to help businesses offset labor costs and support annual worker wage increases. It was proposed in 2024 and received final approval before that year ended.
The publication added that Port Authority also sets a "street pricing" limit, which caps airport prices at 15% above comparable prices outside the airport. Other JFK businesses, including Shake Shack, had added the employee-related surcharge.
Hudson by Avolta's website lists health coverage, paid leave, and other employee benefits. However, those benefits also appear to be available at airports where the surcharge is not collected.
Unfortunately, there is no apparent mechanism for showing how businesses spend the money collected through the fee.
What can be done?
Gruber encouraged customers to review their receipts: "You need to be checking your receipt for everything, everywhere."
Users on Gruber's TikTok video shared their own experiences challenging extra charges. One said a restaurant eventually removed an automatic 20% charge after a dispute, adding that they posted a one-star Google review.
Another said they planned to email a Dumbo brewery after discovering an included gratuity only after leaving an additional tip.
According to Inc., a company collecting the surcharge without providing employee benefits could violate Federal Trade Commission guidelines on deceptive practices.
"Why am I paying for a company to retain employees?" asked one user who reported seeing the fee at a LaGuardia Starbucks.
Where can I learn more?
JFK's employee-benefits surcharge is just one example of the extra fees customers encounter at checkout.
• An airport traveler buying water encountered an 18% tip request at self-checkout.
• In Los Angeles, diners challenged a mandatory tip and 5% admin fee as "extortion."
• A proposed U.S. Shoppers' Bill of Rights would target surge pricing and gym lock-ins.
• At a Georgia Applebee's, an apparently inflated 20% tip sparked debate about tax calculations.
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