“It just means my sister and I are working more hours than we ever have,” McRee said. “We thought when Alabama lifted (unemployment benefits), we’d see people flocking in,” said Katherine McRee, who owns The Lili Pad in Cahaba Heights. Kay Ivey ended the extra $300 unemployment benefits effective June 19, while federal stimulus checks ended, at least for the time being, in late summer.
Meadows said he believes, though admitting it is his conjecture, that the pandemic altered the “risk plus costs plus benefits” balance for many workers who exited the market.ĭawoud, along with other business owners, said federal stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits did not help. “It’s a lot of work.”īen Meadows, an assistant professor of economics at UAB, said there is a “mismatch” of the labor that is being supplied by the workforce and the labor demanded by employers. “Our service is still maintained, but not like it used to be,” he said. “It’s putting more pressure on our employees.”ĭomino’s, like several restaurants that spoke to the Vestavia Voice, said it has increased its pay to attract more employees, and is doing all it can to meet customer’s needs, Dawoud said. “We’re looking for a lot of employees,” said David Dawoud, who owns nine Domino’s pizza stores. Businesses across the city are struggling to find employees and maintain pre-pandemic service levels, owners said. If you drive around Vestavia Hills, seeing “Help Wanted” signs is not an uncommon sight these days. Madison Payne tops pizza with pepperoni at Domino’s Pizza in Cahaba Heights.