Ideally, Redner’s Warehouse Market would operate with around 100 employees. But assistant store manager Jim Lust said the grocery on Greentree Drive in Dover currently has a workforce of about 80. Where the business would typically interview eight to 10 job candidates weekly pre-pandemic, two or three are more typical now. At Redner’s, after a conditional hire, the candidate must still pass a company test to officially join the workforce. The limited staff has put added stress on current employees, who “are working harder and putting in more hours,” he said. Mix in the challenge of enforcing mask mandates throughout the pandemic, and Mr. Lust said employee “morale is nowhere near where it was.” That’s a general theme emerging in meetings with business owners throughout the state, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce President Judy Diogo said. While the availability of federal benefits is one factor for limiting applicants, Ms. Diogo said other would-be workers may still be facing child care issues, as well.
- Excuse-makers are great at what they do. If you don’t like minimum wage, then make yourself worth more. Stop expecting your God, the government, to save you. Take control of your life. — Kelly Lord
- There’s no excuse for working people to death for pennies, while you rake in millions and still hold out your hand for government assistance. Job creators, my ass! — Margarett Burns
- It’s not up to you or government to determine what is a fair wage. — Rob Holley
- Yes, it is, especially as taxpayers’ money is being given out to companies already making profit. — Margarett Burns
- Neither you nor the government gets to determine what someone’s wage is worth. Only the market does. — Rob Holley
- Technically, keeping up with cost-of-living increases, it would be around $25 an hour, so $15 isn’t too much to ask! — Margarett Burns
- Stop the free checks. Make them get a job. — Gary Everage Sr.\
- Oh, the answer is to kick people when they are already down! Through no fault of their own. This is how the French Revolution started! Let them eat cake? — Margarett Burns
- Stop paying slave wages, and your jobs won’t go to Mexico and China. — Gary Greer
- Perhaps this is a sign that people should be fairly compensated for their level of work. Everyone deserves a living wage, and the more education/training required to perform a job, the more they should be compensated. — Ashley Carter
