Community Chat

[Tadaki]

@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.  

[decaf]

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.

[Foxxee]

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.  

[PamfromCT]

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.

[KingstonsMom]

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@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

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@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'?

[chiclet]

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....

[haddon9]

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!

[on the bay]

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.

[Teddie]

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

[haddon9]

@Teddie Thank you