In the world of foodies B次元官网网址� of which I consider myself a hungry member B次元官网网址� people will latch onto a restaurant they love and remain dedicated to it.

It could be just a single menu item that they adore or a raft of dishes B次元官网网址� or perhaps itB次元官网网址檚 the staff that makes them come back again and again.

So I tried not to judge B次元官网网址淢arie from VictoriaB次元官网网址� too harshly when she contacted me several weeks ago to express her frustration that her favourite restaurant/hangout had shut down.

The place in question is Original JoeB次元官网网址檚 on McKenzie Avenue in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淭his sucks,B次元官网网址� she told me. B次元官网网址淚 had been going there because I loved the vibe and now itB次元官网网址檚 gone.B次元官网网址�

Now some might laugh because many foodies are snobs and wonB次元官网网址檛 consider Original JoeB次元官网网址檚 worth missing because they donB次元官网网址檛 respect chain eatery/lounges like Cactus Club or Earls.

As I said, I try not to judge.

I just moved to Victoria a month ago and had to bid goodbye to my local Red Robin in Burnaby, B.C. B次元官网网址� not the most creative menu, but the staff were amazing and it was one of the only places really close to my home. I liked the way I was greeted when I came in to watch a game at the bar. It just worked for me.

So I get where Marie is coming from.

The sign on the window of Original JoeB次元官网网址檚 says itB次元官网网址檚 only closed B次元官网网址渢emporarilyB次元官网网址� but the online listing says itB次元官网网址檚 permanent and the location is no longer listed on the companyB次元官网网址檚 website.

I donB次元官网网址檛 know how long itB次元官网网址檚 been closed, but what I found interesting was the note on the door blaming B次元官网网址渟taffing shortagesB次元官网网址� for the closure.

IB次元官网网址檝e heard this excuse from many retail businesses and restaurants. Frankly, I wonder if the term is actually correct.

Is it a B次元官网网址渟hortageB次元官网网址� of staff B次元官网网址� implying that there just arenB次元官网网址檛 enough workers available in the job pool through natural means B次元官网网址� or is it that workers have fled the restaurant industry because they are fed up with how they are being treated?

This is a real thing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many workers re-evaluating their careers. They are fed up with unpaid overtime, abusive bosses and customers, low wages, plus being constantly jerked around on their shifts. IB次元官网网址檝e spoken with many servers who were exhausted after being forced to work until midnight one day and then having the shift the next day being the early one.

Many of these people have decided that enough is enough.

My own daughter works as a barista while attending school and left her last job because the boss started cutting back everyoneB次元官网网址檚 shifts.

A whole bunch of staff suddenly quit and the boss expressed confusion as to why this was happening.

So before complaining about there not being enough workers, maybe look in the mirror.

The power balance has shifted somewhat with so many places hiring. Before, restaurants could do whatever they wanted to staff because there was a seemingly endless supply of workers to fill any vacant spots.

Now that is not the case and weB次元官网网址檙e seeing the consequences with restaurants either shutting down or cutting back the days that they are open.

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Do you have a story tip? Email: chris.campbell@blackpress.ca.

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