topic Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout in Community Chat

Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

Linmo — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 02:48:48 GMT

I'm noticing things happening in my own life that are starting to concern me about the near-term fallout from the pandemic. Everywhere I go now, there are help wanted signs. That is a good thing and means that the economy is rebounding.

But some places, even the Q, are having trouble fulfilling orders in a timely manner. I've read that because of new COVID restrictions in Southern China, shipments are being delayed. I mailed a USPS Priority Mail package 2 weeks ago which is still MIA. I spoke to a very honest postal manager today who told me that his post office distribution center currently has only 30% of their workforce right now. With prices and inflation also on the rise, we could be in for some rough waters ahead.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

hyacinth003 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 02:54:21 GMT

Some of this fallout is reportedly due to people not going back to work because they get equal or more of their pay with COVID benefits.

I suppose a few are afraid to go back, maybe.

I didn't read it, but saw an article on Wolfgang Puck saying he cannot get enough help for his restaurants. A local pizza chain has said this also.

Hyacinth

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 02:59:00 GMT

@hyacinth003 wrote:
Some of this fallout is reportedly due to people not going back to work because they get equal or more of their pay with COVID benefits.

I suppose a few are afraid to go back, maybe.

I didn't read it, but saw an article on Wolfgang Puck saying he cannot get enough help for his restaurants. A local pizza chain has said this also.

Hyacinth

@hyacinth003 I thought Covid benefits were over. What was it? Two or three checks? Do you mean unemployment? My niece got kicked off that almost a year ago.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

hyacinth003 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 03:02:24 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
@hyacinth003 wrote:
Some of this fallout is reportedly due to people not going back to work because they get equal or more of their pay with COVID benefits.

I suppose a few are afraid to go back, maybe.

I didn't read it, but saw an article on Wolfgang Puck saying he cannot get enough help for his restaurants. A local pizza chain has said this also.

Hyacinth
@hyacinth003 I thought Covid benefits were over. What was it? Two or three checks? Do you mean unemployment? My niece got kicked off that almost a year ago.

@proudlyfromNJ

I meant COVID unemployment. Some people are still getting it. I think it may vary state to state.

Hyacinth

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

chessylady — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 03:02:40 GMT

There is a simple answer for getting employees. Pay them a higher wage. Yes, we might have to pay a little more for our burgers. Isn't competition supposed to be part of a capitalist system? It is about time the workers get paid more. After all, we call them essential persons.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

Linmo — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 03:12:39 GMT

@chessylady The article on Wolfgang stated that some employees at his LA restaurants make $120K per year and he's still not able to fill the positions.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

chessylady — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 03:22:31 GMT

@Linmo This is a strawman argument. Wolfgang may have very specialized requirements or may not have a good working environment. I have seen reports where employers who offered a small amount over minimum wage were able to get positions filled.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

Drythe — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 18:13:35 GMT

Just have a feeling that the vacant positions, may not be a sign of an Economic recovery yet.

I’m reading that many are re-evaluating how they earn their way, looking at their own start-ups, and jobs which allow them to work from home. The Pandemic brought about lots of flexibility in terms of ways to work, and new types of jobs; now people are exploring how that flexibility can work for them.

If I were 30ish, I’d take a good look around at new options too. I wouldn’t expect anyone to fund me while I looked, but I certainly would explore my options before I committed to the same old job. We may be seeing types of jobs not thought of before. Exciting!

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

DiAnne — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 03:51:24 GMT

They are all working for Amazon.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

agb80 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:20:29 GMT

Positions are being filled by first time employees from high school who are thrilled to be working and at a higher wage than they ever thought possible for their age and lack of work experience. Employers are finding they are extremely reliable and eager to learn.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

Tadaki — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:33:03 GMT

@chessylady I've also read that workers have found better jobs. Good for them to have used the opportunity to explore other options. For example, I read an article about IBM hiring and training new employees for postions that would have previously required experience. Sorry, I don't have a link. I read it a couple of weeks ago with no idea I would ever be discussing it.

If the restaurant industry wants people to fill their crappy jobs, they will have to put in some effort. As @chessylady points out, this is a capitalist system. And right now, for a change, the worker seems to have an advantage.

I find it quite exciting that we are looking at things differently, such as health care and hybrid work. I think some changes are here to stay. I hope this is a time where we can look at how we do things in a more thoughtful way.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

decaf — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:33:40 GMT

Workers are reevaluating since Covid. I'd do the same if I was working. They're moving in droves to states with better weather, with lower rents and home prices, also states with no state and local income taxes.

Businesses that can't get anyone to work are not willing to pay a living wage. Why would anyone work in an office, retail or a warehouse when they can make the same, or more, working from home, and live in their dream environment.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

Foxxee — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:09:05 GMT

Shortage of employees? Many are getting more on unemployment than employers can pay, the reason why they are not returning to work.

Benefits from the federal government will end in September when workers will have to return to work. Some states are ending their own payments earlier.

Not all price increases and inflation are caused by pandemic fallout. Some are caused by decisions being made.

QVC may be experiencing the same problem with shortage of workers, delayed shipments from China and unloading ships in LA harbor, but that doesn't explain QVC implying items are in stock when they are ordered, then go on backorder, to preparing the order, to backorder again, and once again, preparing your order.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

PamfromCT — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:19:36 GMT

One critical factor I have read about is the lack of affordable child care. It seems that there are fewer centers that have reopened. And child care costs are quite high in many areas.

Perhaps more jobs will be filled when schools reopen at the end of the summer.

Both my son and son-in-law will be permanently working from home now. They both don’t miss their former long commute.

My daughter and daughter-in-law went back to their respective work places quite a while ago.

I don’t want to ignite a fire here, but more than one economist has offered another factor. Namely, the shortage of workers in our country who want to work in service positions. Their theory is that immigration is down, and that immigrants have always filled many service positions.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

KingstonsMom — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:23:30 GMT

@hyacinth003 wrote:
Some of this fallout is reportedly due to people not going back to work because they get equal or more of their pay with COVID benefits.

I suppose a few are afraid to go back, maybe.

I didn't read it, but saw an article on Wolfgang Puck saying he cannot get enough help for his restaurants. A local pizza chain has said this also.

Hyacinth

@hyacinth003

My area is having that same problem, restaurants and fast food places remain closed due to a lack of workers, the signs on their doors state.

Why work when they can sit home and receive the same amount of 'pay'?

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

chiclet — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:33:47 GMT

There are not a lot of good restuarants around here (NE Florida) but the ones we like have cut open hours because of lack of employees. The ones that have kept their regular hours have signs begging for your patience due to lack of employees. Went to a fast food place that had to close lobby due to lack of employees but still was operating drive through. My food tasted like it was cooked a week ago and heated up. Horrible.... My husband called the pest control place yesterday that we have a contract with to come and treat the ants and weeds and they don't have employees to come out. Places that paid minimum wage is now offering $15.00 an hour like Target etc....

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

haddon9 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:52:29 GMT

There has been USPS problems with the mail since before the holidays last year. I have an Etsy shop and a lot of my packages that were shipped priority mail took 4-6 weeks to arrive back then. Some arrived well into January.

I also get some medication shipped from an online pharmacy and almost didn't get it in time from when I would run out....that took an extra few weeks.

Even now the mail is still backed up. Both my brother and I mailed our mom Mother's Day cards more than a week before the day and they arrived after the fact....and sadly after she had already gone into the hospital (day after Mother's Day) and then passed away about a week later. For some reason seeing those unopened cards when I went to her home in Florida made me extra sad.

Everything that is backed up regarding business seems to be because of Covid. I ordered living room furniture in March and was told 4-6 months. They said it ususally takes 4-6 weeks. I'm still waiting and might be getting it next month....fingers crossed!

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

on the bay — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:58:48 GMT

Yes, let's see.

Say someone used to make $7.50 per hour. That may be their first job. Or their spouse has a job too so they are able to get by. Or one stays home and watches the kid(s).

Childcare for someone coming to the home particularly for under preschool age costs $15-20 an hour average.That comes to over $2,000 a month to go to work just for one child care cost.

So they are paying more than one of them might make.

However most daycares and preschool programs unless some expensive private schools, are less expensive then many untrained babysitters coming to the home surprisingly. But a babysitter during this past year may have been preferable to any daycares still open during the height of the pandemic.

Now say one lost job due to illness or layoffs. So they are trying to pay rent, food, car if they have one. If they have a spouse who still works, he or she may have a car unless access to public transportation to work.

Now medical. Would you believe one of my children''s insurance has a $6,000 deductable and pays 60% of costs after that! I have never heard of such awful insurance.

So if a government program offered

unemployment at any equal or higher cost to stay home and not pay childcare, or gas or wear on car, etc,

or enough from stimulus checks etc to be able to stay home, I think any intelligent person would do the same.

I don't think many are so eager to return to a $7.50/hour job. Even minimum wage at $15/hour, you would probably be living way beyond poverty level.

I always think of that basic well known advice, "walk a mile in anyones shoes." Or "there but for the grace of God go I."

I know you all get the idea.

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

Teddie — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:59:13 GMT

Oh @haddon9 , that is very sad about your mom! I’m so sorry!

Re: Becoming Concerned about Pandemic Fallout

haddon9 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:59:51 GMT

@Teddie Thank you