Originally Posted by
BamaVol
Despite the state of Florida being pretty much wide open, I continue to be surprised at all the restaurant workers I see wearing masks. I have to assume they’ve been demanded by the restaurants and wonder if that isn’t part of the straw that breaks the camel’s back. There are better crappy jobs perhaps that don’t make you wear the mask all shift. I know I chafe every time I put one on now (church and doctors appointments) and can’t wait to yank the thing off.
I could see that being a factor. We flew for the first time in over a year in May. Had to wear the mask 8-9 hours total each way, including airport and transport. It was absolutely miserable.
Originally Posted by
Eastbay1K
Yes, it is possible. I don't expect that this represents that grand a percentage of the missing worker pool. Pre-COVID, teens had already been shunning this sort of work, especially in fast food, and seniors have been replacing this (which is a sad commentary, probably well-suited for a /PR discussion). Meanwhile, for several years, I've been saying that the restaurant model as we know it (at least in the SF Bay Area) is not an economically viable model in the long term. The past 15 months have only served to concentrate the days of reckoning.
I don't know what percentage it might be. Like I said, my comment on teens was based on anecdotal evidence. I was actually surprised because nearly all of the server jobs I see around here, fast food or not, are still staffed by teens or 20-somethings. I rarely see seniors. In fact, I can't think of anywhere I've been in months where I've seen this. Maybe that's the problem, seniors aren't returning to restaurant work?
Your comment "at least in the SF Bay Area" is important. I have a feeling that's much different than around here, the Chicago suburbs. And the suburbs are much different than Chicago itself.
My big prediction for today is that this time next year the server shortage won't be an issue any more. As the pandemic wanes, the federal stipend ends, and the best jobs get snatched up, people will go back to these jobs.