'It's defeating': Award-winning Mount Washington barbecue owner talks being ghosted on the job
In the past two and a half years, Sweets & Meats BBQ said it's kept two out of 15 recently hired employees past 30 days.
In the past two and a half years, Sweets & Meats BBQ said it's kept two out of 15 recently hired employees past 30 days.
In the past two and a half years, Sweets & Meats BBQ said it's kept two out of 15 recently hired employees past 30 days.
Mid-May means barbecue season is ramping up.
Weddings, graduations parties and cookouts are quickly filling up social calendars and with that means orders of classic barbeque food. But, if you're looking to stop into Sweets & Meats BBQ in Mount Washington to pick up a pulled pork sandwich during a weekend lunch run, you're going to have to wait a while.
Founder Kristen Bailey announced Sunday that the carryout restaurant portion of the family-run business will continue to be closed through the end of May, citing a staff shortage. Bailey told WLWT the temporary closures come just as the restaurant had gained much-needed attraction and customers.
"Which is frustrating, you know," Bailey said about missing weeks of revenue to closures. "But I can't. I don't have staff and if I can't put my best foot forward if I'm going to compromise quality, if I'm going to jeopardize the quality of life for my employees if you know we're going to mess up orders. It just doesn't make sense to be open."
It's not just surrounding the trouble of finding interested and qualified candidates but keeping employees on the payroll once they are hired, she said.
Bailey said in the past two and a half years, she has been able to keep two out of 15 recently hired on staff after 30 days of employment. She said she's dealt with people not coming to work once hired or quitting without any warning or response. This practice can be known as "ghosting."
"When somebody chooses to take a position here, you know that they're giving us their word that they're going to show up," Bailey said. "We need dependable people. And it just makes it that much harder."
Without the carry-out restaurant, Sweets and Meats is having to rely on its booming catering business thanks to its two food trucks. Before the pandemic, catering accounted for 20 percent of sales. Now, Bailey said it's climbed to 70 percent. Still, with short-staffing struggles, the current team is working long, extra hours in order to fulfill contract orders and events, including Taste of Cincinnati.
The Mount Washington small business isn't alone. According to Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the city's unemployment rate is at 3.4 percent, which is lower than the 3.6 percent national unemployment average. The chamber said this gives potential job candidates and employees more leverage over employers in today's markets. Across the local Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky area, the chamber said there are twice as many job openings are there are people who are actively seeking positions.
In terms of the so-called "quitting rate," Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber said locally the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky area saw a 20 percent increase in January compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
To help companies understand why candidates and employees may be ghosting them, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber offers assistance through its Workplace Innovation Center.
Likewise, Sweets & Meats BBQ told WLWT it also hired a third-party human resources professional to help Bailey and her staff better understand and cultivate a better working environment for current future employees.