Staff shortages cause for concern as Christmas approaches
By Chris Hirons
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December 10, 2021
As shoppers ramp up for the holiday season, retail and restaurant workers are worried about the staff shortages and are unsure if they’re ready to handle the influx of customers.
Although weekly jobless claims are at its lowest level in decades, not all businesses and employees are feeling the relief, a CBNC article reported.
‘Now Hiring’ signs are still on full display around most businesses in Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and haven’t moved since Virginia began to fully reopen in May through the summer months.
Ross Shaffer, an employee at the Christiansburg Walmart and junior at Virginia Tech, said that since he began working at the store, he’s had to pick up more shifts, working up to 30 hours a week instead of the 15-to-20 hours he was originally promised by the hiring manager.
“I don’t have as much time as I used to so I could study,” Shaffer, a computer science major, said. “Now, since I’m working all day and I go to class, I spend all night doing my class work so I’m not getting as much sleep as I should.”
Blacksburg, Va. -- Mellow Mushroom prepares for an influx of customers as the holiday shopping season begins.
Photo by Chris Hirons
Photo by Chris Hirons
Blacksburg, Va. -- Downtown Blacksburg prepares for a busy Christmas season. Photo by Chris Hirons
Photo by Chris Hirons
With the holiday season approaching, stores and restaurants have seen an uptick in customers, but haven’t seen the same uptick in job applications, according to CNBC.
The Wall Street Journal reported that retailers and restaurants are preparing for a season of staff shortages and product shortages amid the supply chain struggles due to the effects of the pandemic.
Mellow Mushroom employee Sahil Sandu has seen the same uptick in customers in recent weeks that retailers have seen, but he’s keeping his mindset positive, even with the staffing shortage.
“I’m a student that’s been asked to work 25ish hours a week,” Sandu, a sophomore majoring in Business, Information and Technology said. “It hasn’t been easy, but the extra money has been worth the extra work I’ve put in.