Local restaurants face serious staffing shortages

Managers say they can't compete with high unemployment payments - News 11's Arlette Yousif reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Local restaurants say they're having a hard time filling open positions. Many say it’s because they simply can’t compete with high unemployment benefits. Some employers have tried making jobs more enticing, yet still can’t seem to find employees.

Yvonne Peach, the general manager of the Yuma Landing Bar and Grill, says she’s seen it first hand. She says she recently hired someone who applied and interviewed, but then didn't want to work.

"When we gave her her schedule, she said ‘oh my God, no’. She said ‘I can’t start working for six months. I need six months.’ I mean that’s ridiculous. You can't hire somebody and wait six months for that position. But we all know what it is. She’s probably on the unemployment program ‘cause that was several months ago," says Peach.

Peach says she's received few applications from people who actually want a job, and she's not the only one.

"Unemployment and really other federal programs have really made it difficult to hire staff and really even retain staff," says Penny's Diner Human Resources Vice President Kayla Hedges.

Difficult nationwide and right here in our own community.

"Recently, we had people that came in with applications. And so I actually greet them at the front door here. And I told them, I said ‘okay, give me your applications and I’ll have somebody interview you, interview you right now.’ oh no, they didn’t want to be interviewed. So they left with the application. Didn’t even wanna be interviewed," explains Peach.

However, she expects the tide to turn very soon thanks to Arizona's new $2,000 work incentive.

Many don’t realize that their applications are being tracked and kept in mind. Businesses remember good and bad applicants, especially in small communities.

"We receive plenty of applications, but when we call candidates it’s, you know, ‘I’m not really interested in working right now, just had to apply for a job.’ Or we have seen, you know, the same person apply weekly, just to simply apply," explains Hedges.

Both employers are in need of cooks and servers and say they expect the flood gates to open once unemployment benefits are fully cut off.