The domino effect that caused a severe shortage of restaurant employees
A sign posted outside a restaurant reminding patrons to be kind and appreciative.
I think we can all agree that the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on people's lives. Those who were spared physically were affected in many other ways. Millions of people lost their jobs due to Covid. According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, “The country has lost 20.6 million jobs since mid-March 2020, resulting in an unemployment rate of 14.7%, a level not seen since the Great Depression in the 1930s.” However, while unemployment rates have fortunately dropped post-pandemic over the past year, according to Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, “about 23,000 restaurant jobs remain unfilled.” The United States is generally not known for their generosity towards the unemployed, but since Covid, this has changed. The government passed an expansion relief package, which granted $600 a week to jobless workers. This figure is more than many make from their jobs, so why would these people come back to work? One such industry that has been affected by this unprecedented policy is the restaurant industry.
What led to this major crisis? Even when unemployment benefits ended at the beginning of September, many restaurant workers did not return. This is due to many factors. Connecticut Restaurant Association reports, “Ninety percent of restaurants are paying more for food and 65% are paying higher occupancy costs like rent and other property expenses, according to survey data. Nearly four-fifths reported higher labor costs, even though 78% also said they’re understaffed, in line with worker shortages nationally.” Restaurants weren’t buying as much food and supplies, and their suppliers were forced to charge more. This was, and is, an ongoing cycle that has caused a major crisis in the industry. Since restaurants are short on staff, the staff that are actually there to work are being overtaxed, underpaid, and unnecessarily overwhelmed. Because of this instability, many restaurant workers have quit their jobs. It's simply a domino effect. While restaurant patrons are now anxious to get back to dining out, due to the worker shortage, many restaurants around Connecticut (and nationwide), still have reduced indoor capacity and have limited hours and days. As patrons are now anxious to support their favorite restaurants by dining out more, It’s often impossible to get a reservation.
There are multiple factors that led to this spiraling shortage. During lockdown, with space away from their jobs, many employees reflected on how unhappy they really were and how toxic their work environments have been. Others recognized the need to prioritize and switched to other careers. Finally, most food industry workers raised concern about the serious health issues they faced when working in a service industry indoors during a pandemic. Many report that restaurants don’t take precautions like proper cleaning and sanitation protocols during Covid. They are scared to be at work and risk getting sick and if they become sick, many do not get paid sick leave. They also worry about possibly bringing Covid home to their families, if they get exposed on the job. Not to mention, if their kids get sick, there are childcare issues. As we head into winter, things still seem somewhat bleak in the industry. Restaurant owners will have to be creative in ways to entice employees to return to work.
As restaurant patrons, we need to fully support the industry by exercising patience. These employees are doing their best, under imperfect conditions, and we need to understand that and show compassion. We can’t afford to lose anymore businesses around town. So what’s the best thing we can do as a community to help? CONTINUE DINING OUT AND ORDERING IN!