USA Today New York State Team
Brett Pennefeather, right, president of ECK Plastic Arts, jokes with an employee on Wednesday, May 5. Despite competitive wages and benefits, the Binghamton company has had a difficult time recruiting qualified employees.
(Provided photo â Democrat and Chronicle) Loosening COVID-19 restrictions across New York are bringing a measure of financial relief for businesses. Now they just have to find the workers. A combination of labor shortages across the state prior to the pandemic and enhanced unemployment benefits is now keeping some workers from looking for work, according to New York business owners struggling to fill jobs.
May 11, 2021
USA TODAY New York State Team
Loosening COVID-19 restrictions across New York are bringing a measure of financial relief for businesses. Now they just have to find the workers.
A combination of labor shortages across the state prior to the pandemic and enhanced unemployment benefits is now keeping some workers from looking for work, according to New York business owners struggling to fill jobs.
“When the [enhanced unemployment benefits] came out, it became kind of a different labor relationship with the employees,” said John Carr, owner of Adirondack Brewery in Lake George.
“There were a lot of them that, not because they were afraid of COVID or anything, were just like, ‘Why go to work if I can stay home?’”
New York State Team
Loosening COVID-19 restrictions across New York are bringing a measure of financial relief for businesses. Now they just have to find the workers.
A combination of labor shortages across the state prior to the pandemic and enhanced unemployment benefits is now keeping some workers from looking for work, according to New York business owners struggling to fill jobs.
“When the [enhanced unemployment benefits] came out, it became kind of a different labor relationship with the employees,” said John Carr, owner of Adirondack Brewery in Lake George.
“There were a lot of them that, not because they were afraid of COVID or anything, were just like, ‘Why go to work if I can stay home?’”