We were at the Lakehouse Grille last week and, literally, as we approached to check in (had reservations) they were discovering that two people scheduled to work just didn't show up.
It's not just a shortage of help, it's unreliable help. Worse, when proven unreliable, what do you do? Fire them and make yourself even more short of help?
Plus, there is an attitude gaining ground concerning "quality of life". "9 - 5, 40 hours a week, and THAT IS IT! It used to be that the people that chipped in with overtime to meet a need were appreciated and compensated for their overtime and possibly promotions and wage increases. Now, you can't pay some of them enough to get them to work overtime.
The US was known for a "Can Do, Get the job done" attitude. It was the country's competitive edge. That may be becoming a thing of the past. It did create more stress on workers. Some can handle it, some can't.
However, economics is a rather merciless environment. If companies are slowed down by various staffing issues and attitudes, they make less money and will have to limit the amount they can compensate workers. Eventually, some workers may find it harder to "get ahead" with their "limited work" attitude. Maybe they won't care. Maybe some will. Customers will notice a lack of responsiveness and shortages of services. Maybe there will be "premium" service companies that provide high levels of service and quality for an associated premium price.
The way we work is going through a transfiguration. I don't think workers, in the end, will get what they expect. It's similar to unions forcing up wages and succeeding for a while but then being replaced by automation and cheaper labor in other parts of the world. Economic forces are a "natural law" phenomena. They eventually balance out. X work yields Y compensation, not because that is what the business owner wants to pay but because if they don't follow it, they go out of business.
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