Businesses battle labour shortage with creative incentives
For some businesses, the answer to difficult labour shortages is a cash bonus for anyone who takes the job – but even that isn’t enough sometimes.
It's worse in some industries than others, but those businesses struggling to find staff say they're working harder than ever and trying new ways to attract workers.
At Lil Z’s Pizza in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, finding staff to work in the kitchen isn’t easy. When a prospective employee walks through the door, they have all the power.
"If someone shows up for the interview we're like, 'Okay, you're hired.' You know, him or her, they get the job," said manager Johny Bonney.
A new report from Statistics Canada describes the labour crisis – business are more likely to increase wages or find other incentives to attract workers.
"We put it out there, 'Hey, we'll give signing bonuses,' some extra incentive to even just get people to apply," said Bonney. "At one point we had $1000 on the table."
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says the restaurant industry may be the worst hit.
"At the national level 55 per cnt of small businesses are saying that they are affected by labour shortages," said Jasmin Guenette, VP of National Affairs with CFIB.
"Today we have 37,000 jobs going unfilled, costing our economy billions of dollars," said Ontario’s labour minister Monte McNaughton.
The health care sector and airline industry are struggling too.
McNaughton says Ontario should be looking outside of the country for help.
"We need a new deal from Ottawa when it comes to immigration. It's a tool we have to help fill shortages," said McNaughton.
With no imminent or easy solution, businesses like Little Z’s Pizza are sometimes left teetering on the edge.
"We're always one staff away from disaster," said Bonney.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey
Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.