SASKATOON – Sheraton Cavalier and James Hotel’s sales and marketing director says it has been difficult to get back on staff in the hospitality industry after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sheraton Cavalier Hotel is 15 to 20 percent less staffed in certain areas such as restaurants, reception, lounge, and housekeeping, Shawna Nelson said.
The banquet department suffered the biggest decline with 50 percent.
The jobs cost between $ 11.81 and $ 15 an hour, depending on experience. Some of them also contain tips.
“I don’t think half of the people we’re trying to call back have found other jobs, and that has nothing to do with the hospitality industry,” said Nelson.
Nelson, who also sits on the board of directors of Saskatoon Destination Marketing Hotels and Tourism Saskatoon, says it’s a “big hot topic” across town.
She believes months of instability in the industry caused people to look elsewhere.
She also points out the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
“That doesn’t make it easy for us, we have such great summer sun out there, why not stay on CERB until it’s dry.”
She says a better solution would be for the federal government to give employers more subsidies through Canada’s Emergency Wage Grant.
Michael Kereiff has been on CERB since the pandemic began. He also works part-time for PickNic’s Catering as a chef.
Kerieff is the head chef and has 22 years of experience and says no one would hire him if he was looking.
“I’m sure a place like the Sheraton would love to have me, but they don’t want to pay me what I’m worth.”
Kerieff says he usually makes $ 30-35 an hour.
Colleen Christopherson-Cote, the Saskatoon coordinator for Poverty Reduction Partnership, says those who stay with CERB and don’t go back to work don’t milk taxpayers.
She argues that when people consider getting back into the job market, they weigh the cost of transportation and childcare in order to find a position that pays off on a par with CERB.
“No research suggests that people choose to stay home and not improve themselves or their job opportunities because of the Basic Income,” said Christopherson-Cote.
Messepark Marketing Director Kristy Rempel said it was more difficult to find staff this year.
The park needs nearly 600 part-time workers for the eight-day Saskatoon Ex, including food vendors, ticket vendors, and general staff on site.
The hardest part was filling the 19+ category, which served alcoholic beverages in the Kicking Horse Saloon and in the grandstand area.
“We don’t know exactly why they hesitated to come back,” said Rempel.
CERB is expected to join a new Recovery Benefit program starting September 25th.
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