With summer just around the corner many Bowen businesses are on the hunt for new employees. While many restaurant owners say they are just getting ready for the busy-season and willing to wait until university and high school students wrap up the school years, other businesses are finding themselves more pressed for time.
Oydis Nickle is looking for staff both at the Union Steamship Marina and at Doc Morgan’s. Since posting on Facebook about Doc’s re-opening and need for staff about two weeks ago, Nickle says that she’s found a chef and a few line-cooks, but still needs much more staff.
“I think our timing was good in terms of getting word out that we’re looking for people,” says Nickle. “Responses to our posting have slowed down, but I’m sure when students start to look for work in a few weeks time they will pick up again. As for the marina jobs, we’re looking for two people, and I’m confident we’ll be able to fill those positions.”
Céline Boyer at Café Rustique recently advertised for a dishwasher, and says she has not found someone to fill the position yet, but is not worried.
“You do have to start preparing for summer ahead of time, you can’t wait until the end of May to start looking for people,” she says. “Usually, it is not a problem to get students to work entry-level positions. Finding qualified and experienced staff, that’s where the real challenge is. We’re fortunate to have those positions covered.”
Shika restaurant on the Pier is planning to re-open in May.
Owner Mitsumi Kawai says she is actively looking for cooks and counter servers to join her team.
“I’d say our needs are on the urgent side of things,” says Kawai. “So far I’ve heard mostly from high school students - which doesn’t really help me find someone who can work full-time as a cook starting in May.”
Landscaping businesses are even more hard-pressed to find labour.
“We need to people to work now,” says Rosie Montgomery with Home Farm Gardens.
Montgomery says that with a starting wage of $15 an hour, she is pretty sure the pay for landscaping is better on Bowen than in the city, but she’s found it increasingly challenging to find employees over the past few years.
“I’m not sure what the reason for it is,” says Montgomery. “I increasingly see young people are living with their parents out of economic necessity, so I don’t think it’s a housing issue. That said, we might be hiring someone we met at a conference in New Westminster, and part of the reason that is feasible is because we can provide housing at the farm [Endswell].”
Jen McIntyre, owner of Island Girls Garden and Design says that she would like to hire two full-time employees, and one part time employee, but has been so busy working herself she hasn’t had time to advertise.
“I’m relying on word of mouth at this point,” says McIntyre. “Spring is my really busy time, so university students don’t really work for me. Also, you have to train them then they leave at the end of the summer. I did hire students last summer, but it just doesn’t seem like they really need to work. I need someone with some maturity. I pay $15 an hour to start, and will go as high as $20… but it is really hard to find the right people.”
