CAPE COD, Mass. — The crowds are expected to be back on the Cape this summer, but businesses are trying to staff their opening before all the tourists arrive. We have been reporting on the staffing shortages which is now being called a staffing crisis.
Dave Colombo owns several restaurants on the Cape. He started hiring earlier than usual. Now he’s working to streamline everyone’s workload since they will likely be doing more jobs on their shift.
“I just ask them that this year we are going to need to work a little harder and try to make this thing more seem less,” said Colombo.
Colombo is buying more technology like portable credit card readers, so the point of sale can happen quicker.
“So it is less steps and and they can execute everything from start to finish right in the palm of their hand in front of the guests,” said Colombo.
The staff has also gotten more training so they can wear any hat on a particular shift.
“Your server might be a bus, might be a dishwasher, might be a host,” Colombo explained.
Basically, he says everything is on the table.
“We had to adjust the menu because of that. Working with less people, you need to simplify it,” said Colombo.
Usually about a quarter of the Cape’s summer season help is made up of foreign workers here on visas. The COVID-19 ban on those visas was just waived by the president, so they can start heading to the U.S. next week.
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