Sponsored By

‘Get used to $15 wages now:’ How the labor crisis is rooted in rising wage demands‘Get used to $15 wages now:’ How the labor crisis is rooted in rising wage demands

The labor crisis is complicated, but it’s borne of a competitive market and increasing worker needs—and experts say it’s been a long time coming

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

June 9, 2021

6 Min Read
labor woes wages
Hiring and retention are challenges that operators can't figure out in a post-COVID world.Drew Angerer/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Joanna Fantozzi

Signs popping up in front of restaurants that say, “Closed: No one wants to work anymore.” One McDonald’s franchisee offering a free iPhone after six months of employment. As the restaurant industry settles into a new chapter of post-COVID operations, and as dining rooms fill up again, the No. 1 issue plaguing operators is hiring and retaining a reliable staff. In fact, according to the latest data from Black Box Intelligence, industry turnover is almost as high as it was immediately before the pandemic.

But despite many operators connecting labor woes with the continuation of COVID-era unemployment insurance benefits, restaurant workers are actively seeking employment; some 45% of restaurant industry workers are actively a...

Create a free account or login

This content is available for registered users

Already have an account?

Read more about:

McDonald’sStarbucks

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.