by Joyce M. Rosenberg, AP Business Writer April 21, 2021 .
It looks like something to celebrate: small businesses posting “Help Wanted” signs as the economy edges toward normalcy. Instead, businesses are having trouble filling the jobs, which in turn hurts their ability to keep up with demand for their products or services.
Owners say that some would-be workers are worried about catching COVID-19 or prefer to live off unemployment benefits that are significantly higher amid the pandemic. Child care is another issue parents aren’t able to work when they need to tend to or home-school their children.
When Steve Klatt and Brandon Lapp set up interviews for their restaurant and food truck business, they’re lucky if one out of 10 or 15 applicants comes in.
Colorado businesses may be required to accept cash
Durango, Colorado Currently Wed 15% chance of precipitation 22% chance of precipitation 1% chance of precipitation
House Bill 1048 cleared Legislature and is headed to governor’s desk
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 11:56 AM A masked Courtney Limmer pays general manager Ashley Magy in cash for her drink at Fika Coffee House in Parker. The Main Street business asked customers not to use cash earlier in the pandemic for safety reasons. Kevin Simpson/The Colorado Sun file
Colorado businesses may be required to accept cash A masked Courtney Limmer pays general manager Ashley Magy in cash for her drink at Fika Coffee House in Parker. The Main Street business asked customers not to use cash earlier in the pandemic for safety reasons.
Businesses scramble for workers as job openings go unfilled
By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG article
NEW YORK - It looks like something to celebrate: small businesses posting Help Wanted signs as the economy edges toward normalcy. Instead, businesses are having trouble filling the jobs, which in turn hurts their ability to keep up with demand for their products or services.
Owners say that some would-be workers are worried about catching COVID-19 or prefer to live off unemployment benefits that are significantly higher amid the pandemic. Child care is another issue parents aren t able to work when they need to tend to or home-school their children. For some people, a combination of factors go into their decision not to seek work.
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Business groups are applauding a new law that charges sales taxes to Floridians who buy items from out-of-state online businesses. Already Floridians owe that money to the state if it’s not collected at the point of sale from the retailer. But few people remit those dollars.
Floridians who buy items from out-of-state online businesses will be charged sales tax under a plan signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. The money from the taxes will go toward the state s unemployment trust fund. Business groups are excited to see the change.
Carolyn Johnson with the Florida Chamber of Commerce says her group is thrilled that DeSantis signed the bill into law. For the past two decades, she says the Florida Chamber has been trying to level the playing field between businesses in Florida and those outside the state. Johnson says right now, online retailers based in the state already collect a sales tax.
Help Wanted signs aren t something to celebrate, as businesses are increasingly hampered by a hiring crisis.
Apr 21st, 2021
This photo provided by Hannah Albert on Sept. 23, 2020 shows Steve Klatt, left, and Brandon Lapp, owners of Braised in the South, a Johns Island, S.C, restaurant and food truck business that is having trouble finding workers during the pandemic. Many small businesses find hiring more difficult because many would-be staffers fear contracting COVID-19 on the job or would prefer to live off unemployment benefits.
Hannah Albert via AP
NEW YORK (AP) It looks like something to celebrate: small businesses posting “Help Wanted” signs as the economy edges toward normalcy. Yet, instead of snapping up these jobs, many out-of-work Americans are choosing to stay home.