Publican offers $1000 cash to lure staff to Sunshine Coast hotel
Sunshine Coast publican Steve Conway has offered new employees a $1000 cash bonus in a last-ditch effort to hire workers.
The 53-year-old Kenilworth Hotel owner said he was getting too old to work 70-80 hours a week and needed support from his wife and children to step in when they weren’t working or at school.
He said it has been “impossible” to find bar staff or kitchen hands for the past 12 to 18 months.
Conway advertised the bonus on social media. He received five applications and had people agree to an interview, but not one turned up.
“We can’t give a job away,” Mr Conway said.
“I’ve never done it (the bonus) before in my life, but that’s how tough it’s been.”
Mr Conway, the treasurer for the Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce, said since the pandemic started there has been a lack of backpackers looking for bar work and this issue has impacted many businesses in town.
Richard Stone, Business Director of recruitment firm Hays said regional towns with small population size had always found it challenging to recruit staff and Kenilworth was no exception.
“There is a significantly reduced pool of candidates, especially for hospitality roles and fruit picking in areas such as Kenilworth,” Mr Stone said.
Irit Jackson, 6th October 2021
