This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
If you look on page 11A of today’s paper, you will see several ads for local businesses that are hiring. On that page, there are options for jobs in different fields.
The issue is no longer that jobs are not available, it’s that people don’t want to work. Before the pandemic, lots of people were looking for jobs but could not find work, or at least work they wanted.
Since spring 2020, that has changed. Now, people don’t look at what’s available, they look at how they can get paid with the lowest amount of work possible.
Several times in 2021, we ran “Now Hiring” special pages similar to today’s page. Some of those included the same businesses every time.
I guess my question is, why is it so hard to find employees right now?
I’m convinced it’s tied to COVID-19 in one way or another, whether it is fear of spreading the virus or people living off of government money due to the pandemic.
Both are legitimate and valid reasons, but those can’t be the only reasons.
As an employer, this makes it hard for the business because you have to overwork the people you have on your current staff. Overworking your staff can cause them to quit and find another job that may not be as labor intensive.
It could also make employees ask for more money for doing their job. Not necessarily because they have more responsibilities, but maybe because they may be doing the job of multiple people. Even if you know the job of every position, that doesn’t mean you want to do the job of every position all at once.
Signs about businesses being closed due to short staffing has become a common sight, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you think you are not qualified or have the skills or experience to do a specific job, do research and ask questions. That could give you a better understanding of the position you may be applying for, which could attract you or push you away from a position. On the other hand, it might be the path to a different position.
In some situations, there are people who just need work to take care of their families or pay bills. For the people who really need to hear this, I have a piece of advice:
Apply for a job and start working! It doesn’t matter what the industry is. If you need to support your family and pay bills, there are jobs available.
It’s not up to me who is in the category of “who really needs to hear this,” but if you are, know this is just tough love.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and, well, get back to work. Before I do, I want to say Martin Luther King Jr. Day is and should be recognized and/or considered a holiday. His role in the fight for equality is unprecedented.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
