Poor Service and Bare Shelves Blamed on "Worker Shortage"

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
What is it with this "worker shortage"? Years ago there were more people looking for work that there were jobs. Some have blamed COVID, but it seems to me we should be getting over this by now. I hardly see anyone wearing masks in public these days.
 

Last edited:
My word, not me, I need to keep working for now.

I notice bare areas at Target. I also notice plenty of employees. Some on cell phones.

As far as masks go, I'm still wearing mine and I'm waiting for someone to make a remark. Though others are still out there doing the same.
 

Exactly the same here with regard employment... More job vacanices than people to fill them now.... altho' I wouldn't go so far to say it's the cause of empty shelves..
 
Wanna place blame? Try corporate greed for one. Companies not willing to pay reasonable wages in favor of paying higher dividends.

Then blame the out-of-touch corporate management issuing decrees regarding employment practices, rules, regulations that are altogether unrealistic to the hired help doing the jobs.

And Bob's your uncle...
 
why do you feel the need to mention that you wear a mask and are waiting for someone to say something?
surly we must be past that by now !
Remy said:
As far as masks go, I'm still wearing mine and I'm waiting for someone to make a remark. Though others are still out there doing the same.
Click to expand...
 
debodun said:
What is it with this "worker shortage"? Years ago there were more people looking for work that there were jobs. Some have blamed COVID, but it seems to me we should be getting over this by now. I hardly see anyone wearing masks in public these days.
Click to expand...
Nearly every business we visit has a Help Wanted sign on the door. However, most of those jobs pay at, or not much more than minimum wage.
Today, most people can get more from the various "welfare" programs than they would get by taking these low paying jobs.

https://moneytransfers.com/news/content/how-many-people-are-on-welfare
 
Around here there are a few that still pay poorly, less than $10/hour but certainly not minimum wage; most pay at least $15/hour.

The problem with those jobs is that they aren't full-time jobs and/or have no benefits. People who get government help also get health coverage, something that's not affordable for families with children.

Many of the "help wanted" signs are for jobs that make promises of wages and hours but after hiring, the company doesn't deliver. Two I can think of offhand are McDonald's and Walmart. I've heard that Target is another one.
 
It's real easy to be a sidewalk superintendent hearing about all the jobs that are going unfilled because people *don't want to work* but that's really not the case.

People who are well-employed or who are retired on a comfortable income truly don't understand the reality of the job market for unskilled labor.
 
According to "experts," the pandemic caused all sorts of supply chain issues and worker shortages. Since the food industry doesn't pay as much as other industries, workers in the food industries are seeking better wages in other industries. So food industries raise their pay to attract workers, but those additional costs have to come from somewhere. Giant corporations aren't just going to eat those additional expenses if they don't have to, so instead, they get it from consumers. That's part of the reason for inflation.
 
dairies closing..
no fertilizer for farming..
energy crisis..nat gas..fuel oil..all types..refineries shut down...
aluminum plants shut down...
large grain warehouses..
burnt down..
there's more to look at than worker shortage ..
please..everone...get prepared
 
I wonder why there is such a labor shortage. And yeah, cousin Ernie's aunt's son-in-law just sits playing video games, but I really don't think he's the cause of a national labor shortage. And I don't think people are just sitting there collecting huge welfare checks, while they wait to be driven around in limos. And I don't know what Covid had to do with a labor shortage. One reason is Americans aren't reproducing at a rate to sustain the population. And immigration is just too limited to sustain it for much longer. I do have a pet theory in that we have too many small businesses. Pick an intersection and there will be at least 4 fast food places. Within 10 miles of me, there are 8 pharmacies. I think we just way overbuilt, and we just do not have the people to staff them.
 
I do see a lot of "Now hiring signs" but no empty shelves. Recently I placed an order for something online. Once they got my money they sent me confirm email that I could expect receipt of my order to be delayed due to covid. ( And it was!) It's closer to THREE years now than it is to two and this lame excuse for bad service still persists! I don't have any real answers to this issue. Maybe @Nathan is right? People have reassessed their lives and moved on?
 
I would think that many older people in service related jobs decided to retire when Covid hit. Also some 2 income families probably realized during Covid that they could do without one income if one parent was home with kids and didn’t go back.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top