Where Are All the Servers? Why Your Restaurant Workers Aren’t Showing Up and How You Can Change That

4 Min Read By Andrew Duffy

If you're struggling to staff your restaurants, know that your operation isn't alone. The U.S. is facing a critical labor shortage, particularly hourly restaurant and hospitality workers. "The Great Resignation" that ramped up over the summer saw more than 706,000 food service workers leave their jobs in restaurants, dining facilities, bars, and hotels during May alone.

An inordinate number of eateries are closing early or altogether because of the severe labor shortage; there aren't enough workers to keep the doors open. It's not just impacting small franchises or mom-and-pop outfits. Even well-funded university dining halls are closing their doors. Vanderbilt University charges roughly $80,000 in tuition annually and still had to shut down its largest dining hall for dinner service.

It's time for restaurant operators to look hard at why their servers aren't showing up and solve that issue for the short and long term.

The Real Reason Servers Aren't…