NORWOOD, Mass. — Despite a massive labor pool, Norwood-based Uno Pizzeria and Grill is struggling to hire staff, like many so restaurants. But unlike other restaurants, they’re offering big bucks to any employee that brings in a new hire.
Uno Pizzeria and Grill has nearly 90 restaurants around the world, including 14 Massachusetts.
“Five years from now we’re going to look back and say as a restaurant company we survived the storm when a lot of people didn’t, but what you’re going to be really proud of is what we did to help each other,” said Erik Frederick, CEO of Uno Pizzeria and Grill.
Frederick has set up a program where employees volunteer to help their co-workers secure appointments for the Covid-19 vaccine and provide transportation, if needed. It’s not mandatory to get the vaccine, but the company is offering money to anyone that does.
“We started off a month ago saying we’ll give you $50. We’ll give you a gift certificate for $50 to get vaccinated,” he said.
Uno is also giving a $300 signing bonus to any employee that brings in a new hire. Like so many restaurants, they’re struggling to find workers.
According to the National Restaurant Association, there are nearly 2 million fewer 16-to-34-year-olds in the labor force, which is the most prominent age group employed in the restaurant industry. Frederick also blames a lot of it on unemployment benefits.
He said some people make almost as much money staying home, so the pizza chain is forced to offer incentives.
“We’ve got a very aggressive reward for bringing in employees who last for 30 days a lot of people are like 90, 30 days is a good amount of time so brings in your friends and that kind of thing,” Frederick said.
Other food chains are also serving up bonuses. Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering free college tuition to eligible employees who study agriculture, culinary arts and hospitality and work at least 15 hours a week after just four months on the job.
Cox Media Group
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