TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — COVID-19 federal unemployment benefits came to an end on Monday, leaving many looking for answers.
Local business owners may have the answer as businesses have experienced a worker shortage over the course of the pandemic. Steve Huddleston, General Manager of the Grand Traverse Pie Company, said that it was difficult to bring in new employees.
“We went through a spell there where we were hardly getting any applications at all,” Huddleston said.
Huddleston explained that as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in Indiana, he struggled to find the help with the increased workload of inviting patrons back into the restaurant to dine-in. He stated that the worker shortage put a strain on the experienced workers that had already been working.
“When you’re short staffed, you’re taking advantage of the longer term employees and puts a lot more pressure on them,” Huddleston said. “It took us a while before we started getting any applications but it’s been good like over the last week.”
Over the past week, Huddleston said that he has received at least five applications a day.
