8M in restaurant industry without jobs: survey

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

More than 8 million restaurant employees have been laid off or furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an analysis from the National Restaurant Association. A survey by the trade group found 88 percent of restaurant operators have instituted layoffs or furloughs since the outbreak began in early March, cutting 83 percent of total staff on average. Forty-one percent of respondents laid off or furloughed all staff members.

Restaurants featuring table service were the most drastically affected, with more than 90 percent of operators surveyed saying they have made layoffs or furloughs. Jobs were cut at 96 percent of fine dining restaurants, with an average reduction of 89 percent of staff. By comparison, 75 percent of fast-casual and coffee establishments have made cuts as did 58 percent of quick service operators.

Limited-service operators saw smaller losses, which the organization said was due to their readiness to handle off-premises services as nearly all restaurants nationwide have closed to dine-in customers.

The survey also found that 60 percent of operators said existing federal relief programs, such as the federal Paycheck Protection Program, will not be sufficient to avoid job cuts. The survey also found sales were down an average of 78 percent, with the group estimating the industry will lose more than $50 billion in sales in April if current trends persist.



Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/493666-8m-in-restaurant-industry-without-jobs-survey

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The group surveyed more than 6,500 restaurant operators between April 1 and April 16.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Wait until America learns to cook at home

on a budget. Everyone is entering a home cocoon, and will be there awhile. Many will enjoy the family time, the time and value savings, the safety.

[Neoma]

8. Americans aren't there yet though.

I was amazed at how many pizzas were in the Walgreens freezer, I'll say that much.

[cstanleytech]

9. "Many will enjoy the family time" Assuming they do not kill themselves especially those with young

children who are watching episodes of barney and or other similar shows over and over and over and over and over LOL

[customerserviceguy]

11. There will be two groups

One will have figured out that cooking at home is more nutritious, not as time consuming as they thought, and ultimately cheaper.

Then, there will be the group that is completely tired of doing it, whose families prefer the taste of salt and fat in restaurant meals, and they will rush to fill up restaurants as soon as the all clear is given.

[forthemiddle]

17. Count me in the second group

For 25 years I was in the first group, but now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we enjoy going out and having someone else do the work.

[customerserviceguy]

18. I'm the cook in the house

so I can appreciate your feelings, but I really do enjoy putting together a good meal for the two of us. My ultimate triumph is when my lady doesn't recognize leftovers after I've disguised them!

[forthemiddle]

19. We usually go out three times a week

The other days we both cook at home, and my husband is much better than I am at it.
I just missing going out, and can’t wait until we can safely do it again.

[totodeinhere]

3. This is very unfortunate but I don't see any alternative at this point.

Life is more important than jobs.

In the mean time we need to give those laid off workers support so they can get through this.

[IronLionZion]

4. Some restaurants are closed for good, some for a few months

some are doing takeout/delivery only. And some have leveraged their commercial suppliers and shifted to a robust grocery side-hustle. So it varies quite a bit.

delivery workers living dangerously so privileged people can enjoy nice meals
https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/23/21190803/carbone-crowds-nyc-delivery-takeout-coronavirus

Then there are all sorts of conflicting opinions on how best to support these workers. I would have liked to see them get direct cash payments instead of the big corporate chains getting bailout money.

There are people claiming we shouldn't order delivery, or shouldn't order takeout during peak dinner time (7 PM), and should delete all apps and just call it in, or avoid counter service because it endangers the workers, or whatever. I'm a kick-ass home cook, but then restaurant workers won't get income. No matter what we do, someone will say it's wrong.

[cstanleytech]

10. Not just the delivery people its also those that work in the grocery stores themselves that are at

risk land they are not being compensated for the risk by the stores.
Mind you some have done a little like Kroger gave their employees I heard 300 dollars but others went super cheapskate like Publix that only gave theirs a 50 dollar in store gift card.

[IronLionZion]

12. I've avoided big stores for the past month now

Getting what I can from small neighborhood shops without too many customers. I don't know what's the right thing to do to support these workers. Do you?

[cstanleytech]

14. Given the risk I would say that a fair compromise would be of 40% of the profit the stores have been

earning should be going to to the employees.

[IronLionZion]

15. That would be sweet

since grocery stores must be making tons of revenue these days.

[cstanleytech]

16. True and the company would not really lose money since its only 40% of the profit.

[Marrah_Goodman]

5. This is one of the reasons the +600 unemployment is so important

Servers get paid almost nothing, so on unemployment they would only receive about 50% of almost nothing.

[Marrah_Goodman]

6. my little group of 3 went out for pizza on Saturday night

We picked up a pizza at our favorite place and then went down to the bay in Salem (MA) and ate it in the car with a beautiful view. It was a really nice change from the same 4 walls.

[cstanleytech]

7. I feel horrible for the 8 million workers and most of the small restaurant owners but

for the corporations that own the varies restaurant chains I feel zero sympathy as most them treat their employees shitty with low pay and or few hours.

[iluvtennis]

13. My brother was restaurant worker at Denny's in LA for 10 years. Laid off at end of March. He gets

next to nothing from CA unemployment, but the $600 per week from Federal stimulus package will help him
make it through this. He's a single guy, so he'll move in with our mom where he doesn't have to pay rent.