Immigration and Employment

I'm gong to piss some people off

How would you like the perspective of someone who actually runs a business? Not what the political pundits scream?

The truth is, we as employers CAN’T GET ANYONE TO FUCKING WORK! Look around. How many signs do you see in business windows that say HIRING? How many businesses, especially restaurants and brewpubs do you see limiting their hours? Is it because there isn’t the business? Hell no. It’s because they don’t have enough employees.

And it’s not about pay either (in most cases). Inflation, since the pandemic, has gone up 17%, but wages have increased 22%. Now I can only speak from my own experience and from what fellow brewers are telling me. But in the last 2 months we have hired 20 people and only 2 of them remain. That does not include the ones who apply but never show up for an interview. The ones who do, we will hire them as long as they are breathing. Then we spend at least three days training them, which is not cheap, believe me. They work one day and stop showing up after that. Complaining that they thought is was too hard. Really? When my dad was their age he was fighting the Nazi’s. I grew up thinking a 12 hour day was just the norm.

So now we are going to deport 12 million illegals. Great. And who exactly is going to do those jobs? I guess maybe if we paid a dishwasher $40 an hour they “might” show up for work. But I doubt it. And the person making $40 flipping burgers, what do you think that burger will cost?

I’m not saying that the economy should depend on illegal immigrants and low wages. Far from it. But the history of the United States is full of newly arrived immigrants taking the entry level jobs. They move up the ladder and their kids do even better. Look at your own family history and you will see that is true.

What we need in this country is 1. A strong border that prevents people illegally coming into the country and working (I sure couldn’t do that in another country) and, 2. A more open entry gate to allow more immigrants to come in legally. WE NEED IMMIGRANTS TO FILL THESE JOBS because born Americans just won’t. How is it that we can put a man on the moon 55 years ago and yet can’t figure out how to screen people who want to work jobs in America, that most Americans don’t. Thank God I don’t own a farm. But I buy what farmers grow. Yes I worry.

Here’s a confession. When I was a young restaurant manager I hired illegal immigrants. I knew they were illegal. I knew they were making up social security numbers. But here’s the thing. They worked really hard and always showed up. They didn’t complain and didn’t bring their mental crap into the restaurant. I would see them on Sundays walking with their wife and children, dressed up and enjoying the weekend. Good people.

So I say. More immigrants. Pay them well. Make them legal. And let’s get these stinking “Apply Today” signs off our front doors!!