By Curt_Anderson January 12, 2023 11:39 am Category: Business (0.0 from 0 votes) Rules of the Post Write A New Article How To Post Here Rate this article (5=best, 0=poor)

This past Sunday night my wife and I walked to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner only to discover they were closed that night. There was no explanation as to why they were not open that day, but suspect it was for a lack of workers. I know of at least two long-time restaurants near me that have closed specifically because they cannot hire enough restaurant staff. I see ads on local TV not advertising their products and service but advertising help wanted.

Oregon's minimum wage is $13.50 in our area, $14.75 in the Portland metro area, and $12.50 in the non-urban counties. By the way, everybody including restaurant workers who collect tips, get at least minimum wage in Oregon. Not surprisingly, menu prices around here are all higher and most menus have reduced offerings. Many restaurants have changed from table service to counter service and bus your own table.

Of those restaurants that went out of business or were forced to reduce their hours of operation, I am sure they owners offered their workers more than minimum wage before calling it quits. Of course restaurant workers still get tips like anywhere else. The norm for tips seems to have crept up from 15% to 20%.

You cannot convince me that Venezuelans and others who traipsed countless miles across deserts and jungles and faced hardships along the way wouldn't gladly accept a restaurant job if offered.

Comments Start Below

by HatetheSwamp on January 12, 2023 11:53 am 5.5 million immigrants have traipsed across the border since Clouseau put his ancient, wrinkled hand on the Bible. How many more do you think Joe should have pushed through? prnewswire.com by Curt_Anderson on January 12, 2023 12:06 pm Whatever the number, it wasn't enough to satisfy the needs of business for employees. That number of immigrants you cited is a 1.6% increase in the US population. We not only can handle that increase, we need it. by oldedude on January 13, 2023 8:09 am I agree that getting people to work is an issue. Most of that though is because they are getting paid if they work or not. If I didn't have to work and earn the standard pay (even, say at -20%). You see this in our total workforce. Companies are having to pay at least 8% more to keep up with inflation. Which increases inflation. I don't think you ought to screw the workers over though. The government was printing money last year. That also hurt inflation. Those hit hard? Small business. It's harder for them to absorb the costs. People are used to getting a $20 dinner, and it's now $35. I was talking to one owner, and lettuce that used to be $45/ flat, had gone up to $150/flat, and has now leveled out at about $85. So it's a spiral any way you look at it. And again, getting people to work is harder now. Go To Top

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