It hasnB次元官网网址檛 been flagged as a prevalent issue for all business leaders, but some Semiahmoo Peninsula restaurateurs are saying the $2,000 per month Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) has made it difficult for them to call employees back to work now that theyB次元官网网址檝e re-opened to dine-in customers.

Of the businesses that Peace Arch B次元官网网址 spoke to Tuesday, White RockB次元官网网址檚 LauraB次元官网网址檚 Coffee Corner (15259 Pacific Ave.) has been the most seriously affected by CERB.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the most frustrating thing IB次元官网网址檝e encountered, ever, in my life,B次元官网网址� coffee shop owner Laura Cornale said.

B次元官网网址淧eople are saying no, they donB次元官网网址檛 want to come back to work. TheyB次元官网网址檙e like, B次元官网网址楽ee you in August or September.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

CERB pays out $500 per week to people who have lost their job or are earning no more than $1,000 in a four-week period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduced on March 15, the benefit had previously maxed out at 16 weeks, but was recently extended until Sept. 9.

Prior to the pandemic, Cornale said she had 16 staff on her payroll. That number has now dwindled to six.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 disheartening because I have put all of our heart and soul into our small business trying to have people that work local, live local and (I) canB次元官网网址檛 find anybody,B次元官网网址� she said.

Cornale said, in her experience, the workforce shortage is related to CERB payments.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like theyB次元官网网址檙e comfortable on the CERB because theyB次元官网网址檒l probably make more money,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that she has had to reduce shop hours.

B次元官网网址淵eah, I would like to be open, like I used to, from seven to five and hustle and bustle. But I literally have six people back and weB次元官网网址檙e working every day.B次元官网网址�

Roadhouse GrilleB次元官网网址檚 (1781 King George Blvd.) Jana Mash told PAN Tuesday that employees wishing to stay home and collect CERB instead of returning to work was a challenge when the restaurant re-opened May 25.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e 17 years old and you probably bring in $500 a month because you work one or two shifts a week B次元官网网址� and they were basically approved for $2,000 a month B次元官网网址� I mean, these kids are having a flipping heyday,B次元官网网址� Mash said.

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RoadhouseB次元官网网址檚 payroll has been reduced by half, from 41 employees to 21.

Now, Mash said, staff members who are getting shifts are grateful for the work.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all working, weB次元官网网址檙e all happy, we feel safe. WeB次元官网网址檙e all abiding by all the protocols that help us feel safe and comfortable, as well as the guests.B次元官网网址�

She said that for the most part, customers have been respectful, understanding of the circumstance and are just happy to have a place to go.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of things are different, a lot of things look different. Nothing is on the table, everything gets brought out, ketchup, roll-ups, the salt and pepper, everything gets brought out sanitized,B次元官网网址� Mash said.

PrimoB次元官网网址檚 Mexican Grill (15069 Marine Dr.) general manager Samantha McQuade said that while she has heard of other restaurants having problems retaining employees, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 a major issue for them.

McQuade said when they decided to re-open, there was hesitation from some employees about whether they would work enough hours to make more money than they would receive on CERB.

B次元官网网址淲e ensured that anybody that weB次元官网网址檙e bringing back was going to have enough hours to be making more than what you would be making B次元官网网址� once you pay your taxes B次元官网网址� on CERB,B次元官网网址� she said.

McQuade said customers have been understanding of the new health protocols, have been tipping well and are in a fantastic mood.

B次元官网网址淚 was expecting it to be chaos and to be dealing with really frustrated customers. But I found that the effects have actually been quite the opposite. People are just so happy to get out and about that theyB次元官网网址檙e being really, really respectful,B次元官网网址� McQuade said.

Joseph Richard Group (JRG), which owns a number of restaurants throughout the Lower Mainland including S+L Kitchen and Bar (16051 24 Ave.), has encountered some challenges related to CERB payments.

JRG payroll director Marie Wynne told PAN that there was some initial hesitation from some staff with regard to how their CERB would be affected if they returned to work.

B次元官网网址淎nd while there were some that decided to remain off work in order to collect CERB, we are definitely grateful that a large number of our staff have returned to work, whether in a full or part time capacity, with some of our staff working in combination with stipulations under the CERB program (earning up to a max of $1,000/month in combination with the CERB benefit),B次元官网网址� Wynne wrote in an email.

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Wynne said some staff have decided to not return to work, however, some of these employees live with elderly relatives, are around immunocompromised family members or have young infants at home.

B次元官网网址淭his is something we absolutely understand and support and we are grateful that the CERB is available to support them and their families,B次元官网网址� Wynne wrote.

The issue of recalling employees was discussed during the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of CommerceB次元官网网址檚 June 12 virtual townhall. Guest speaker Danny Bernstein, a partner with workplace-law firm Roper Greyell LLP, told attendees that there may be consequences for those who are ready and able to return to work, but choose to stay on CERB.

B次元官网网址淵ou can expect your employees to come to work, thatB次元官网网址檚 the general rule,B次元官网网址� Bernstein said.

B次元官网网址淭hings like, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 getting more money on CERB than I would at your restaurantB次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� is not an adequate reason to refuse to come to work. Similarly, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 just not comfortable.B次元官网网址� That, in and of itself, is not enough for someone to refuse to come to work. They need to put a reason to it.B次元官网网址�

Bernstein said a piece of leverage employers B次元官网网址� who, he emphasized, are responsible for proving their workplace is safe B次元官网网址� have in such situations is the ability to notify government of the refusal. The employee could be deemed to be B次元官网网址渁bandoningB次元官网网址� their job, he said, explaining that if that is the case, they would no longer be considered to be laid off due to lack of work, but rather, to have quit, B次元官网网址渨hich is a disentitle to EI.B次元官网网址�

Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman said in an email that while some businesses have experienced challenges relating to CERB, its overall impact has been minimal.

B次元官网网址�$2,000 a month when living in an area that is the highest cost of living in Canada, is not a lot of money,B次元官网网址� Huberman wrote.

White Rock BIA executive director Alex Nixon said he has heard some concerns about labour shortages, but it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been wide-spread.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that IB次元官网网址檓 going to keep an eye on and keep asking people about because where weB次元官网网址檙e at right now might not be where weB次元官网网址檙e at even a month from now,B次元官网网址� Nixon said.

Nixon noted that some restaurants have reduced the number of staff required to run the business.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 need as many servers if youB次元官网网址檙e only serving half as many tables,B次元官网网址� he said.

Some smaller family-run businesses, meanwhile, such as PGB次元官网网址檚 Jamaican Restaurant (1387 Johnston Rd.), have not experienced a workforce shortage, a representative told PAN.

A representative from Ocean Park Village Pub, another family-run business, also told PAN that theyB次元官网网址檙e grateful for their core team members who have helped with re-opening.

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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