Iowa businesses expand incentives to attract employees during a competitive job market
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Updated: 10:35 PM CDT May 2, 2021
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Updated: 10:35 PM CDT May 2, 2021
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PANDEMIC HAS MADE THE HIRING MARKET A LOT MORE COMPETITIVE WITH TRAVEL EXPECTED TO RISE THIS SUMMER BUSINESSES ARE OFFERING INCENTIVES TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THEIR POSITIONS. KCCI’S KAYLA. JAMES SHOWS US HOW LOCAL INDUSTRIES ARE ATTRACTING NEW EMPLOYEES. THE FERRIS WHEEL IS SPINNING KIDS ARE LOADING ON TO RIDE AND FAMILIES ARE SKIPPING THROUGH THE PATHS OF ADVENTURELAND. ONCE AGAIN LAST YEAR. YES WAS MUCH QUIETER YEAR FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE BUT AS SHE WALKS THROUGH THE PARK ON OPENING DAY SATURDAY, MOLLY VINCENT SAYS SHE’S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS YEAR AND NONE OF IT COULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE EMPLOYEES WORKING THROUGHOUT THE PARK. WE HAVE FEWER EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD WE EXPECT THAT TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT AS SCHOOLS GET OUT FOR THE SEASON. SQUARE FOLLOW THE BROWN CARPET ALL THE WAY OUT FOR ME. OKAY. THAT’S HOW IT USUALLY WORKS FOR ADVENTURELAND WHERE EMPLOYEES RANGE FROM THE AGE OF 14 TO RETIREES. THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN HIRING MORE COMPETITIVE IN SOME AREAS. MEANING MANY BUSINESSES ARE ADDING INCENTIVES SOMETHING VINCENT SAYS ADVENTURELAND HAS DONE FOR YEARS. WE HAVE SOME NEW INCENTIVES TO NEW BONUS INCENTIVES FOR OUR CAMPERS. WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT INCENTIVES AS WELL. THOSE NEW INCENTIVES ARE IN ADDITION TO FREE ADMISSION FOR EMPLOYEES INCENTIVES ARE BECOMING A BIG FACTOR IN THE CURRENT. PROCESS AS AMERICA GETS A HOLD ON THE PANDEMIC ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS LIKE DES MOINES RESTAURANT BUBBA SOUTHERN COMFORT. WE ARE ADVERTISING 15 TO 17 DOLLARS AN HOUR FOR OUR KITCHEN STAFF FOUNDING OWNER. CHRIS DEEBLE SAYS THAT’S AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY DOWNTOWN DES MOINES RESTAURANT MAKING FINANCIAL CHANGES TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES. SPAGHETTI WORKS IS GENERAL MANAGER TELLS KCCI. THEY’VE RAISED THEIR STARTING WAGES OVER A DOLLAR FOR MOST POSITIONS THIS YEAR. HAVE ALSO ADDED A NEW BONUS PPROGRAM FOR BACK OF THE HOUSE EMPLOYEES DIESEL SAYS THIS IS ALL BEING DONE TO IMPROVE FROM THE DAMAGE THE PANDEMIC LEFT AND I THINK THERE’S FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE SCARED THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A VOLATILE CAREER, BUT THINGS ARE COMING BACK AND PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR LOVED ONES WHICH PROVES TO BE A GOOD SIGN FOR MANY BUSINESSES. ESPECIALLY SUMMER APPROACHES