Posted on 05/06/2018 9:13:08 AM PDT by Theoria
A quarter-century ago, there were 56 teenagers in the labor force for every “limited service” restaurant — that is, the kind where you order at the counter.
Today, there are fewer than half as many, which is a reflection both of teenagers’ decreasing work force participation and of the explosive growth in restaurants.
But in an industry where cheap labor is an essential component in providing inexpensive food, a shortage of workers is changing the equation upon which fast-food places have long relied. This can be seen in rising wages, in a growth of incentives, and in the sometimes odd situations that business owners find themselves in.
This is why Jeffrey Kaplow, for example, spends a lot of time working behind the counter in his Subway restaurant in Lower Manhattan. It’s not what he pictured himself doing, but he simply doesn’t have enough employees.
Mr. Kaplow has tried everything he can think of to find workers, placing Craigslist ads, asking other franchisees for referrals, seeking to hire people from Subways that have closed.
Yet there he was during a recent lunchtime rush, ringing up veggie footlongs and fountain drinks. He feared that if the line grew too long, people might get frustrated and not come back.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
What more workers? Pay more money. It’s not complex.
Then you tell us where they are.
‘I hate it when FReepers rag on all young people.’
hmmm...so you hate it when people express opinions on an opinion forum; OK...
Greatest problem is the minimum wage. If employers have to pay through the nose for labor, less productive young’uns are not even in the running.
I didn't see in the article where the subway guy said he would raise the salaries of employees to attract workers.
Mowing neighborhood lawns is done mainly by immigrants nowadays. Anecdotal evidence is that this is true in many parts of the country, not just states adjacent to Mexico.
Both of my kids are working and going to school. Very proud of them.
They run up against how much they can raise the price of their products and still make the sale, if they raise wages substantially.
Yes if wages go up they can reach a point where all.jbs are filled. But will the market support a $10 footlong special?
My younger kid has had a lawn biz since he was 10. Both my kids also paid for their own cars.
I see a lot of senior citizens working in McDonalds. They seem to love what they do. Keeps them active and social.
When I get someone I can’t understand I ask for the manager. I tell them I’m not happy that I can’t understand their employee and I’m pretty sure they can’t understand me. It may not make a difference but it makes them stop whatever else they’re doing and come to the window and deal with me. If everyone started doing it and the manager spent all day dealing with it maybe they’d quit hiring them.
I had substantial jobs every summer of my teen years. Even after entering college I worked every Summer. My children did the same.
Sure. Head out to some beach areas. ‘They’ import Russians and other people from Europe to work here!
Local landfills via planned parenthood?
The McDonald’s in my area recently installed kiosks where you can order electronically. You can still order from a person at the counter, but there are fewer people at the counter than before - usually only one.
And playing online games.
Today's teenagers don't usually venture out of the house as much as we free range teenagers did.
BTW, at eleven I had a paper route AND I was pulling weeds for a landscaping company. At twelve, I became a member of the crew -- complete with my own designated lawn mower. My thirteenth summer I worked full time mowing lawns and bought myself a dirt bike. At fifteen I worked in a Chevron gas station. At sixteen I made money playing in a rock band. At eighteen I became a SCUBA instructor.
Apparently, here in the People’s Democracy of Kanaduh, word has come down from d’Ottawa to businesses including Wallyworld, that immigrants are to be hired AHEAD of Canadians. Gotta keep Dustbin’s immigtation policies looking good! Apparently the ‘persuasion’ involves the intimation that too many hires of Canadians instead of immigrants could result in tax audits and numerous other sorts of audits.
O Canada!
Good point.
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