Food, beverage and hospitality businesses in North Bay struggle to find workers
Food, beverage and hospitality businesses in North Bay struggle to find workers
While customers are returning to restaurants and hotels, many business owners in North Bay say their staff is still missing.
"It's next to impossible, to hire," said Clase Eriksson, manager of Casey's Grill Bar in North Bay.
"The candidates are not coming through the door, the responses on the media sites are not there, they're just not coming out … We've had to change our entire way of thinking, our entire mindset, how to roll with the change of the dynamic."
Positions across the board need filling – servers, hosts, chefs and cooks -- and it's affecting how restaurants are operating.
"It affects everything," said Travis Ethier, general manager at Wacky's North Bay.
"It's harder to give the best service we can. When there's not enough staff working the floor and in the kitchen, then your wait times go up.
"It's good because we have a good group of customers who understand the wait times, so we just try our best," Ethier added.
It's also becoming difficult on the staff that is working.
"Our teams are asked to do more hours for no real reward," said Eriksson.
"They are not able to have the lifestyle that they are entitled to because they are trying to meet the demand that hasn't slowed down … Cooks and servers just can't keep up."
Hotels are also feeling the same heat.
"Interviews are being made, but people aren't showing up, hires are being brought in and trained and leaving for the next best role down the street at that hotel," said Cindy Rivest-Vainio, catering and sales manager at Best Western North Bay.
"It's been very challenging. We might have 100 applicants and less than half will show up for an interview."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE | While RCMP says use of spyware is lawful, it's 'extremely intrusive': former privacy commissioner
While the RCMP says its use of spyware is lawful, there is 'no doubt' the covert collection by police of personal and other information from Canadians' devices 'is an extremely intrusive practice,' says former privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien. 'What's at play is the balancing of privacy and other public interests,' Therrien said Tuesday.

Top commander defends military's vaccine requirement, says 'tweak' in the works
Canada's top military commander says he plans to 'tweak' the Armed Forces' vaccine requirement in the next few weeks.
Trump seeks to raise money off news of FBI search of his Florida home
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday tried to turn the news of an FBI search of his Florida estate to his benefit, citing the investigation in text messages and emails soliciting political donations from his supporters.
Sask. RCMP issue Amber Alert for 7-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy
An Amber Alert was issued Monday evening by Shaunavon RCMP in Saskatchewan for seven-year-old Luna Potts and eight-year-old Hunter Potts.
WhatsApp is going to stop letting everyone see when you're online
Two new features being introduced on WhatsApp, which will let you choose who can see when you're active, and to leave groups silently, will start rolling out to all WhatsApp users this month.
Large explosions rock Russian military air base in Crimea
Powerful explosions rocked a Russian air base in Crimea on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding several others, authorities said.
WestJet restores 17 routes to warmer climes to help Canadians escape the cold this winter
WestJet is bringing back 17 new routes that were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic to help travellers escape the cold this winter.
Newfoundland highway reopens after days of closures due to out-of-control wildfires
A massive effort began Tuesday to transport food to the southern Newfoundland communities that had been cut off for days from the rest of the island because of raging wildfires.
Airline asked its senior executives to temporarily help as airport baggage handlers
Australian airline Qantas has asked its senior executives to help out as airport baggage handlers as it struggles to manage a staff shortage.