The restaurant industry was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.This week the state is lifting restrictions on occupancy rates at many small businesses.Multiple restaurant owners and managers say they’re glad more and more customers are coming back, now though, they say they have to find people who want to work. “A lot of these people haven’t been out to a restaurant in a year over a year so they’re excited to come back out and re-join society,” said El Patron restaurant manager Vince Garcia. He said they’ve been dealing with a staffing shortage, but are getting more applicants and have trained a lot of good employees. At Tomasita’s Restaurant, they too are excited to see more people coming through the doors. “In one sense it’s going great because the staff that we have are amazing,” said owner George Gundrey. He says because of staffing they’ve reduced some hours and altered the menu a bit. “I can tell you it’s not a question of pay because the pay is very good. I’m not an economist, obviously, the expanded unemployment benefits have to be a part of it,” he said. Carla Sonntag, with the New Mexico Business Coalition, says they’re hearing from multiple business owners that finding people to work has been a challenge. “The staff that they do have they want to keep them as happy as they can and not completely overworked and stressed,” she said. She said child care might also be part of the reason staffing issues have been a major problem.
The restaurant industry was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week the state is lifting restrictions on occupancy rates at many small businesses.
Multiple restaurant owners and managers say they’re glad more and more customers are coming back, now though, they say they have to find people who want to work.
“A lot of these people haven’t been out to a restaurant in a year over a year so they’re excited to come back out and re-join society,” said El Patron restaurant manager Vince Garcia.
He said they’ve been dealing with a staffing shortage, but are getting more applicants and have trained a lot of good employees.
At Tomasita’s Restaurant, they too are excited to see more people coming through the doors.
“In one sense it’s going great because the staff that we have are amazing,” said owner George Gundrey.
He says because of staffing they’ve reduced some hours and altered the menu a bit.
“I can tell you it’s not a question of pay because the pay is very good. I’m not an economist, obviously, the expanded unemployment benefits have to be a part of it,” he said.
Carla Sonntag, with the New Mexico Business Coalition, says they’re hearing from multiple business owners that finding people to work has been a challenge.
“The staff that they do have they want to keep them as happy as they can and not completely overworked and stressed,” she said.
She said child care might also be part of the reason staffing issues have been a major problem.