Few strings are attached. New employees must be hired before Ch'i opens and they must work at least 90 days to earn the bonus.
Emi Guerra, cofounder of Breakwater Hospitality Group and a partner in Ch'i, says the shortage of hospitality-industry workers isn't limited to Miami. "It's really a national problem. Everyone in the hospitality industry speaks to each other, and this is a universal problem."
Guerra says that when the pandemic hit, employees at restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels were the hardest hit. Some filed for unemployment and are still collecting, while others have moved on to other cities or other jobs. "People had to make career changes. That's something to do with the lack of talented candidates."