Everyone is still talking about labor shortages these days, especially in restaurants and hospitality organizations. Restaurants in particular are notorious for taking advantage of a loophole by paying people far less than minimum wage and claiming the tips make up for it. That has been the industry standard. But millions of servers and waitstaff have had enough, and it’s serving as a wakeup call to the industry.
The fact is that restaurant workers usually lack benefits, paid time off (PTO) childcare, flexible schedules and a reasonable living wage. Their jobs also can be physically grueling and the work culture in my experience has been negative or toxic. Oftentimes, they release stress through heavy drinking after shifts, which fuels their camaraderie as part of an unhealthy lifestyle. I remember working as a waiter for Outback Steakhouse when I was in college with no meal break between 4 p.m. to midnight earning $2 an hour. An average minimum wage worker needs to put in about 80 hours a week just to afford rent on a one bedroom apartment.
But the problem isn’t a real labor shortage so much as it is a shortage of corporations willing to pay a living wage and shortage of affordable rent. Along with these systemic problems, rising inflation is eroding the purchasing power of these low-wage workers. One bright spot I came across during the pandemic is &pizza, which pays their employees $16 an hour, and provides medical benefits and PTO. That’s a very unique way to work within the restaurant industry, and I tip my cap to their success.
Related Articles:
It’s time to stop commoditizing temp workforces
Elite Chef Duane Keller’s Recipe for Success