Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Restaurant operator low on workers

Restaurant operator low on workers

May 17, 2006 - 02:08:19 CDT

Associated Press

Reza Kamranian says he was so desperate to find restaurant workers that he included a note at the bottom of customers' receipts saying "now hiring."

Kamranian, who has two A&W restaurants in Bismarck, said he was forced to close one of them a couple of weeks ago for lack of workers, after some called in sick.

"When you're already at bare minimum and two or three people don't show up, it's really difficult," he said. Advertisements brought few responses, he said. Some wanted to work only Monday through Friday.

Kamranian said he would reopen his north Bismarck restaurant after he found more staff. He said the average employee makes about $7.50 per hour, and business has been good. He had 26 workers last week, and needed 50.

"We haven't had anybody not take the job because of the wages," he said. "The problem is, we don't get enough people.

"It doesn't matter how good the business is. If you don't have the staff to handle it, it's going to go down pretty fast."

The president of the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, Kelvin Hullet, said service-industry businesses in particular have struggled to find workers as the area's retail sector grows. Some have been looking to hire immigrants, he said.

"We've actually talked with the ag community in North Dakota - they've already had some experience in recruiting workers from other countries, in particular South Africa and Mexico," Hullet said.

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Comments

duh wrote on May 17, 2006 2:06 PM:

" How about considering to pay employees decent wages? You can't support a family on $7.50 an hour. "

In Awe wrote on May 17, 2006 9:30 AM:

" AFter hearing comments from Mr. Reza Kamranian I am left in awe at his statements. He is saying it is not the wages? Every worker in our fast food industry is under paid compared to that of the rest of the nation. You can go 1 state awaway and you would get 14.50 starting at any major franchise. Even cities in various states with less population than us are getting 12-15 starting. And that is not for Management. That is the rest of the personell. For what these workers put up with daily, their pay scale should be higher. Everyone is underpaid in the Bismarck-Mandan area, not just those workers. Employers move businesses here because labor is cheaper. Out cost of living is not that much cheaper than the average American city anymore. But wages still are not going up. People who work for 10.00 and under need a second part time job, at the least, or have to have a spouse who is makeing significantly enough money. Poverty rates are now established at the $9.00 mark, so why are they only paying these workers $7.50, well below what our own government considers the "Poverty Rate for America"? "

Barney wrote on May 17, 2006 9:21 AM:

" You don't get enough people because of the wages being low. I hope by immigrants they are talking LEGAL and NOT ILLEGAL. If they hire illegals their business will only go down because I for one won't support anyone who KNOWINGLY hires illegal immigrants. Average means just that - they take the high paid management staff and add it with the low paid front line staff to get the average. So if management makes $10 per hour and front line make $5 - the average is $7.50 (($10.00+$5.00)/2 = $7.50). No wonder people don't apply "

Not Surprised wrote on May 17, 2006 9:01 AM:

" They can't find workers because they're competing with Wal Mart for the people willing to work for low pay and no benefits. "

Dan wrote on May 17, 2006 8:36 AM:

" I'm dead set against illegal immigrants, but if LEGAL immigrants can be brought in to work these restaurant jobs, I say go for it. After 8 years in the Twin Cities, I figured out that if I walked into a fast food place and saw white teens behind the counter, it was time to leave and go find a competitor who had Mexicans working. The food was better, the service was better, and the workers cared about what they were doing, as opposed to the spoiled rotten BMW driving local teenyboppers who only took the jobs to shut their parents up. "

EM wrote on May 17, 2006 8:20 AM:

" Please note, the starting wage is not $7.50 If the average wage is $7.50, that tells me a few people are making $12-$15 and the majority are at the $6.00-7.00 range. I knew people who worked there and they did not receive $7.50/hr. This restaurant had a lot of other problems--not just being able to hire enough workers. There were poor managers, the food left a lot to be desired, cleanliness, and several other problems. I wouldn't eat there because of the poor quality of food and the lack of cleanliness. Overall I would say a lack of managers who were overpaid. "

someone wrote on May 17, 2006 8:04 AM:

" I'm thinking that with all the employment opportunities in the city, the number of people on welfare programs should be dramatically dropping. There is really no excuse other than physical disability for people to sit around & draw welfare now. They certainly can't say that they can't find a job. "

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