Staffing Issues for Summer of 2021

[phoenix]

I agree many countries have found including us that when you keep extending unemployment benefits many people just don't bother looking . When we extended it for a year many people starting looking again as their benefits ran out . We are now adding $ 300 per week over and above what individual states pay. the max in NH is $427 plus $300 which can yield $727 per week. this is almost 40K per year and at least last year they made it tax free. So how much would you have to pay someone to work ? Only choice would be foreign workers. Miracle bought a couple of houses near their yard to house people they hire from outside the country. Samiam understands his business model better than most and knows because he has kept his prices down he attracts many locals( year round)who cant afford paying $25-50 per meal. You can have grilled haddock( my favorite Lakes region meal) for les that $30 for two tax and tip included .

[tis]

Originally Posted by phoenix

I agree many countries have found including us that when you keep extending unemployment benefits many people just don't bother looking . When we extended it for a year many people starting looking again as their benefits ran out . We are now adding $ 300 per week over and above what individual states pay. the max in NH is $427 plus $300 which can yield $727 per week. this is almost 40K per year and at least last year they made it tax free. So how much would you have to pay someone to work ? Only choice would be foreign workers. Miracle bought a couple of houses near their yard to house people they hire from outside the country. Samiam understands his business model better than most and knows because he has kept his prices down he attracts many locals( year round)who cant afford paying $25-50 per meal. You can have grilled haddock( my favorite Lakes region meal) for les that $30 for two tax and tip included .

Exactly why the government needs to mind their own business.

[gravy boat]

Recruiters and hiring managers look at gaps in employment on resumes and question the applicants about why they weren't working when there were jobs available. As recruiters for 25+ years each, we know a bit about this subject. No matter the age -- 17, 22, 35 -- you need to speak to why you weren't working.

We raised three daughters and always encouraged them to not be lazy or picky about summer jobs but to take a position to get the experience and work reference. It always has been -- and always will be -- better to be working in a lower paying job and get a work reference to help you get a better position than to not work at all. That won't change.

Let's face it -- nobody here has children or grandchildren they can't help support if the kid takes a lower paying job. We all live ON or near a lake and have boats and other toys -- we all share that information so nobody here can claim poverty or even close to it. Teach the kids and grandkids humility, to respect all levels on the totem pole by starting at the bottom and to show up, do their job, do it well and get a work reference when they leave.

GB

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by gravy boat

We all live ON or near a lake and have boats and other toys -- we all share that information so nobody here can claim poverty or even close to it.

Huh ?

Drove around town with the Chief of Police one afternoon. An old friend. He was doing courtesy checks on some.

Viewed cabins or shacks with no electricity or running water. Right here in the Lakes Region.

Not everyone has a well to do parent or grand parent - to toss them a new BMW or Volvo - now and then.

Elitism occasionally meanders through our cultural perspectives.

[tis]

Originally Posted by gravy boat

Recruiters and hiring managers look at gaps in employment on resumes and question the applicants about why they weren't working when there were jobs available. As recruiters for 25+ years each, we know a bit about this subject. No matter the age -- 17, 22, 35 -- you need to speak to why you weren't working.

We raised three daughters and always encouraged them to not be lazy or picky about summer jobs but to take a position to get the experience and work reference. It always has been -- and always will be -- better to be working in a lower paying job and get a work reference to help you get a better position than to not work at all. That won't change.

Let's face it -- nobody here has children or grandchildren they can't help support if the kid takes a lower paying job. We all live ON or near a lake and have boats and other toys -- we all share that information so nobody here can claim poverty or even close to it. Teach the kids and grandkids humility, to respect all levels on the totem pole by starting at the bottom and to show up, do their job, do it well and get a work reference when they leave.

GB

I totally agree, I look at gaps in employment and people who move around every year or two. It doesn't look good on a resume. Also when the first question is: "How much does it pay?" it's a big negative for me. Even if it's a very high paying job, it's should never ever be the first question asked on the phone or at the interview. And you are right, what ever happened to kids starting at the bottom and working their way up? Most of us didn't start out having what we have now. It's good for you to feel you succeeded, to feel that sense of accomplishment and also to have pride.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tis

I totally agree, I look at gaps in employment and people who move around every year or two. It doesn't look good on a resume. Also when the first question is: "How much does it pay?" it's a big negative for me. Even if it's a very high paying job, it's should never ever be the first question asked on the phone or at the interview. And you are right, what ever happened to kids starting at the bottom and working their way up? Most of us didn't start out having what we have now. It's good for you to feel you succeeded, to feel that sense of accomplishment and also to have pride.

I don't disagree that making pay the first question asked is tactless, but employers should post at least a range so people can know if it's even worth their time. When I was applying for teaching jobs, I interviewed at two private schools that ultimately told me the pay was sub-$30k because "teaching here is a mission, not a job." Every other school I'd interviewed at had clearly identified salaries (of $40k+).

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[CK5 Truck]

I keep seeing people make the claim that the minimum wage it too low, thats not the problem, its finding quality people who actually have developed some kind of work ethic. Perfect example go to McDonalds and ask for a McDouble plain and no cheese, 9 times out of 10 you will bring the sandwich back at least once for them to get it right, those are not workers those are drones who dont want to think or in some cases intelligence had left them years ago. IMO so much of this rests squarely on the shoulders of parents, telling their kids they are special and dont have to do this or that, they have turned their kids into adult toddlers who want and need everything done for them or handed to them. My youngest daughter who graduated from college with a psychology degree EARLY and is signed up for grad school works as a server making yes minimum wage but yet brings home $500 a week in the off season and often over $1000 in the summer all while having a baby a year ago and raising her virtually by herself. How does she do this? She values herself as does her employer. She gives 100% in whatever she does. Thats how people survive on minimum wage jobs, you become a valuable asset not a liability like the McDonalds worker or the lazy ass sitting home playing video games waiting for his/her government check. If you have one of those types taking up space in your home YOU are the real problem.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by CK5 Truck

I keep seeing people make the claim that the minimum wage it too low, thats not the problem, its finding quality people who actually have developed some kind of work ethic. Perfect example go to McDonalds and ask for a McDouble plain and no cheese, 9 times out of 10 you will bring the sandwich back at least once for them to get it right, those are not workers those are drones who dont want to think or in some cases intelligence had left them years ago. IMO so much of this rests squarely on the shoulders of parents, telling their kids they are special and dont have to do this or that, they have turned their kids into adult toddlers who want and need everything done for them or handed to them. My youngest daughter who graduated from college with a psychology degree EARLY and is signed up for grad school works as a server making yes minimum wage but yet brings home $500 a week in the off season and often over $1000 in the summer all while having a baby a year ago and raising her virtually by herself. How does she do this? She values herself as does her employer. She gives 100% in whatever she does. Thats how people survive on minimum wage jobs, you become a valuable asset not a liability like the McDonalds worker or the lazy ass sitting home playing video games waiting for his/her government check. If you have one of those types taking up space in your home YOU are the real problem.

This is a great story, and I'm sure your daughter is terrific. But she is not working for minimum wage, she's working for minimum wage plus tips.

The minimum wage rules do not apply to people who earn tips. So when we're talking about the minimum wage going to $10/hour, we're talking about folks who work as untipped employees, such as cooks and dishwashers.

As I'm sure some of our restaurant pros have seen, waiters and waitresses have done pretty well over the years with income. Every time the price of meals goes up, their tips go up. But kitchen staff, who do not earn tips, have seen their earning power decline.

[fatlazyless]

With the very short lived summer beach session only going from June 26 to the middle of August, seven weeks time, it's pretty much impossible to hire suitable lifeguards for the large sandy beach swim area at Weirs Beach.

May 7, Laconia Daily Sun article: "Lifeguards only at Bond Beach this summer." Bond Beach is on Lake Opechee so locals who want a swim area with lifeguards present can go swim there. This article with five short paragraphs explains the impossible situation for hiring lifeguards at the local beaches.

It's impossible ..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQ9-_ZgB4 ...... sung by Perry Como-1970

So ...... for those in the know ....... Bond Beach on Lake Opechee WILL have life guards ....... and Opechee Park also on Lake Opechee, Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee, and Bartlett Beach on Lake Winnisquam will NOT have life guards.

Yes-life guards ...... or NO-life guards ...... how does this change the overall beach experience in terms of everything ..... swim safety, beach condition, litter, raking the beach, what happens at the beach? ....... www.laconianh.gov/208/Beaches ..... "Bond Beach is a RESIDENT and TAXPAYER only beach and passes must be acquired from the City Clerks office in order to enter. The cost is $15 for one pass and $25 for two. This pass will allow you to park at Weirs Beach parking lot for FREE, provided there is space available."

[swnoel]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

But kitchen staff, who do not earn tips, have seen their earning power decline.

Maybe you could give us some examples of what the area kitchen staff make? It's hard for me to believe there are adults that would work for minimum or low wage as competent cooks and chefs. Looking forward to the data you have as numbers don't lie...

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by swnoel

Maybe you could give us some examples of what the area kitchen staff make? It's hard for me to believe there are adults that would work for minimum or low wage as competent cooks and chefs. Looking forward to the data you have as numbers don't lie...

Kind of weird that you expect a person to have data on NH restaurant pay?

But for those without some sort of chip on their shoulder, and genuine interest in the issue....

Here's a quote from Danny Meyer, owner of Shake Shack, on the issue he saw at his full service restaurants, describing the dynamic I cited of waiters doing well with tips while cooks' pay stagnated:

“The gap between what the kitchen and dining room workers make has grown by leaps and bounds,” Mr. Meyer said. During his 30 years in the business, he said, “kitchen income has gone up no more than 25 percent. Meanwhile, dining room pay has gone up 200 percent.”

This was from a NY Times article a few years back. His effort to eliminate tipping ultimately failed (for the reasons we might expect);

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/d...s-no-tips.html

[TheRoBoat]

Zuni Cafe is a very popular restaurant in SF.

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/...e-16148343.php

[Descant]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Kind of weird that you expect a person to have data on NH restaurant pay?

But for those without some sort of chip on their shoulder, and genuine interest in the issue....

Here's a quote from Danny Meyer, owner of Shake Shack, on the issue he saw at his full service restaurants, describing the dynamic I cited of waiters doing well with tips while cooks' pay stagnated:

“The gap between what the kitchen and dining room workers make has grown by leaps and bounds,” Mr. Meyer said. During his 30 years in the business, he said, “kitchen income has gone up no more than 25 percent. Meanwhile, dining room pay has gone up 200 percent.”

This was from a NY Times article a few years back. His effort to eliminate tipping ultimately failed (for the reasons we might expect);

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/d...s-no-tips.html

That's a pretty old quote, from a market that is unlike NH and related to a "no tipping" issue. I would suggest that in the last year or two, kitchen staff pay remained steady, per hour worked. Waitstaff, depending on tips from 50 customers a shift were reduced to tips from, say, 12.5 customers as capacity was reduced, or transferred to drive-up. A number of different scenarios were discussed in these pages a year ago.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Descant

That's a pretty old quote, from a market that is unlike NH and related to a "no tipping" issue. I would suggest that in the last year or two, kitchen staff pay remained steady, per hour worked. Waitstaff, depending on tips from 50 customers a shift were reduced to tips from, say, 12.5 customers as capacity was reduced, or transferred to drive-up. A number of different scenarios were discussed in these pages a year ago.

Yes--it's an old quote and not related to covid as the issues you point out are. But it is an accurate description of how low wage labor in America has been hammered over the past several decades (less than 1% increase per year in this example). At some point, this leaves folks not wanting to work.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Yes--it's an old quote and not related to covid as the issues you point out are. But it is an accurate description of how low wage labor in America has been hammered over the past several decades (less than 1% increase per year in this example). At some point, this leaves folks not wanting to work.

I think we're seeing a different kind of eating out. When I got my first restaurant job, they trained me to be a short order cook and cook's assistant. I was sixteen; there were bunches of small family run, seasonal restaurants and motels around the area. The motels went condo and people either BBQ'd at the condo, or looked for more upscale dining. Both of those opportunities for kids to get some experience are gone. The community colleges and UNH have, I believe, thriving schools for culinary arts and hospitality, but again, aimed at a more refined experience. Over the same time HS and college sports started backing things up into mid-August. I don't think ill of any employer who is reluctant, in a seasonal business, to hire somebody who wants a week's vacation and then has to leave on August 15. And, nobody needs the money anymore. Whose kid do you know who is "working his way" through college? Easy student loans and no collateral, and politicians who promise loan forgiveness.

[camp guy]

I think, Descant, that you have hit the high points, and each of them ,or all, apply to some, if not all, local employers. I do think, though, that these conditions are not knew, not caused by COVID, but have been in the making for a number of years.

Young people today are just not interested in working a summer job. So, when they do enter the labor market, and their perspective employer asks them if they have any experience, they are at a loss for what to say. Most employers employing beginning workers aren't expecting to hire a trained person, but they do hope to hire someone who has some level of experience in just being an employee.

Sadly, that's not happening. Because of this circumstance, some employees are finding themselves caught in an unpleasant dynamic wherein they have education, but no experience, only can find an entry-level job, but, have real-world expenses that an entry-level job won't cover. At some point in time the government bail outs will stop and then hard, cold reality will kick in.

My advice to someone looking for a job - take whatever comes along and do your best, and keep moving up from there.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by camp guy

I think, Descant, that you have hit the high points, and each of them ,or all, apply to some, if not all, local employers. I do think, though, that these conditions are not knew, not caused by COVID, but have been in the making for a number of years.

Young people today are just not interested in working a summer job. So, when they do enter the labor market, and their perspective employer asks them if they have any experience, they are at a loss for what to say. Most employers employing beginning workers aren't expecting to hire a trained person, but they do hope to hire someone who has some level of experience in just being an employee.

Sadly, that's not happening. Because of this circumstance, some employees are finding themselves caught in an unpleasant dynamic wherein they have education, but no experience, only can find an entry-level job, but, have real-world expenses that an entry-level job won't cover. At some point in time the government bail outs will stop and then hard, cold reality will kick in.

My advice to someone looking for a job - take whatever comes along and do your best, and keep moving up from there.

Agreed--it's not just covid, but that's an easy thing to point to, especially as it it very quickly. The other things under discussion, as you note, have been gradual.

For young folks looking for experience for their resume: my first job out of school, I worked for my uncle. He's still hiring, men and women. Training of all sorts, clothing, food and housing allowance. College tuition and health plans unmatched. 30 days vacation--not this two weeks to start and earn more. When I was ready to leave and the job market was thin, he repeatedly hired me back as an instructor for 25 days at a time. A very kind employer, in my experience, and well regarded on my resume.

[MotorHead]

So we went to Jon's Roast Beef for lunch today, delicious as always.
Fully staffed, gentlemen at the register must have been 65+, good for him.
Waitress was in her 30's. (I am trying to make a point here, get it - No kids)

How is it that some places find employees and others can't.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by MotorHead

So we went to John's Roast Beef for lunch today, delicious as always.

Fully staffed, gentlemen at the register must have been 65+, good for him.

Waitress was in her 30's. (I am trying to make a point here, get it)

How is it that some places find employees and others can't.

My ex works at Jon’s part time at the register . She loves it there people are extremely nice pay is good not great but well over minimum wage.


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[TheRoBoat]

There was an article in the Daily Sun on Thursday about this issue. In the article, various businesses stated how many employees they were short.

Is there an estimate, or could someone with knowledge make a guess, as to the total number of jobs in the Lakes Region that are going unfilled this summer?

[swnoel]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Kind of weird that you expect a person to have data on NH restaurant pay?

But for those without some sort of chip on their shoulder, and genuine interest in the issue....

Here's a quote from Danny Meyer, owner of Shake Shack, on the issue he saw at his full service restaurants, describing the dynamic I cited of waiters doing well with tips while cooks' pay stagnated:

“The gap between what the kitchen and dining room workers make has grown by leaps and bounds,” Mr. Meyer said. During his 30 years in the business, he said, “kitchen income has gone up no more than 25 percent. Meanwhile, dining room pay has gone up 200 percent.”

This was from a NY Times article a few years back. His effort to eliminate tipping ultimately failed (for the reasons we might expect);

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/d...s-no-tips.html

You made a generalized statement about kitchen workers and I only asked where you got your data from and was interested.

[CK5 Truck]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

This is a great story, and I'm sure your daughter is terrific. But she is not working for minimum wage, she's working for minimum wage plus tips.

The minimum wage rules do not apply to people who earn tips. So when we're talking about the minimum wage going to $10/hour, we're talking about folks who work as untipped employees, such as cooks and dishwashers.

As I'm sure some of our restaurant pros have seen, waiters and waitresses have done pretty well over the years with income. Every time the price of meals goes up, their tips go up. But kitchen staff, who do not earn tips, have seen their earning power decline.

Point is make yourself more valuable, no matter what the position, no matter what the job. Im sure there are plenty of people in the waitstaff position that make minimum tips. People that walk in off the street with zero experience and a chip on their shoulders because they dont get offered a 6 figure salary are dillusional and a product of the "everyone deserves a trophy" generation...its the parents and in some cases lack of parenting that have caused these issues...prove me wrong...

[Biggd]

Like I said, you paint everyone with the same brush. I'm 67 and I know many good parents that didn't coddle their kids. Some came out well rounded and some didn't so it's not anything the parents did wrong. You keep patting yourself on the back for being the perfect parent.

Originally Posted by CK5 Truck

Point is make yourself more valuable, no matter what the position, no matter what the job. Im sure there are plenty of people in the waitstaff position that make minimum tips. People that walk in off the street with zero experience and a chip on their shoulders because they dont get offered a 6 figure salary are dillusional and a product of the "everyone deserves a trophy" generation...its the parents and in some cases lack of parenting that have caused these issues...prove me wrong...

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[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Like I said, you paint everyone with the same brush. I'm 67 and I know many good parents that didn't coddle their kids. Some came out well rounded and some didn't so it's not anything the parents did wrong. You keep patting yourself on the back for being the perfect parent.

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Agreed. My 11-year-old spent most of today raking and weed whacking another site here at camp and almost every senior I teach comes in Monday AM with the lamest weekend stories because they all worked them away.

Like people not returning to work because they can "make more on unemployment," there are some lazy kids, but not nearly as many as the narrative.

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