Wendy Ryan:
New York City restaurant that says it’s had to change its operations because it just cannot hire staff quickly enough and now another restaurant in Holmes Beach is offering incentives, including money, to bring in new hires. ABC Action News reporter Julie Solomon takes us there.
Julie Solomon:
Nearly four months ago, Buddy Foy, Jr. and his family opened up the Château Anna Maria inside the Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club. The restaurant on Anna Maria Island is looking to hire.
Buddy Foy, Jr.:
We don’t have staff but we’ve got demand but I didn’t think filling restaurant jobs would be an issue. I really did not see that coming.
Julie Solomon:
The restaurant is looking to hire more than 15 people for positions like servers, bussers, dishwashers and cooks. They’re looking for help in the front of the house as well as the back. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association tells me restaurants across the state are having a tough time filling positions, likely because of increased unemployment benefits. Others argue workers switched industries to survive last year.
This week, the governor extended the work search requirement waiver until May 29th, meaning people on unemployment do not have to prove they are actively searching for work. Foy says all new hires are offered a busy shift. Typically, new hires start on slower shifts. He’s offering other incentives like a $250 referral fee.
Buddy Foy, Jr.:
Referral fee not only to our employees. We’re offering them to anyone. We’ve got fishermen and friends in the area. We’re saying, “You find us waiters or waitresses, we’ll pay you a referral fee.”
Julie Solomon:
Foy says the potential to earn money is there. His restaurant’s door is open. In Holmes Beach, Julie Solomon, ABC Action News.