'We're just trying to get through': Restaurants face staffing shortages Business is finally picking back up for restaurants but they don't have the staff to keep up with it. Share Updated: 10:20 PM CDT Apr 16, 2021 'We're just trying to get through': Restaurants face staffing shortages Business is finally picking back up for restaurants but they don't have the staff to keep up with it. Share Updated: 10:20 PM CDT Apr 16, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript A $1000 SIGNING BONUSES. THE SIGN OUTSIDE STOKES SOUTHWEST GRILL SAYS IT ALL, NEW HOURS, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EMPLOYEES. >> WE’RE JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH. EMILY: JOHN WEDE IS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR RESTAURANTS INC, A COMPANY THAT OWNS STOKES. HE SAYS THEY JUST CAN’T HIRE ENOUGH STAFF. SO THEY’RE CLOSING THE OLD MARKET LOCATION ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS. AND ONLY OPENING FOR DINNER WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. >> OUT OF MY ENTIRE CAREER, I’VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS DIFFICULT TO FIND PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE RESTAURANTS. EMILY: ZOE OLSON WITH THE NEBRASKA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAYS THIS PROBLEM GOES FAR BEYOND THE STATE. >> THIS WAS JUST HUGE. IT’S A NATIONAL PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. EMILY: SHE SAYS ALL INDUSTRIES ARE COMPETING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE. >> IF WE DON’T HAVE SUFFICIENT WAIT STAFF OR SUFFICIENT KITCHEN STAFF, WE’RE GOING TO DO THINGS LIKE SPACE MORE TABLES, REDUCE CAPACITY. EMILY: BLACKSTONE MEATBALL OWNER , PHIL SCHAFFART, SAYS PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO WORK IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW. >> I THINK THAT THERE’S BEEN SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT A LOT OF THESE FOLKS WHO WORK FOR TIPS HAVE BEEN LIKE THERE’S JUST TOO MUCH RISK FINANCIALLY AND HEALTHWISE TO WAIT THIS OUT. EMILY: HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW LONG THIS STAFFING SHORTAGE WILL LAST. BUT HE’S GOING TO CONTINUE SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB. >> UNTIL I THINK PEOPLE CAN FEEL TOTALLY SAFE, THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING WITH THIS. EMILY: RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE ASKING CUSTOMERS TO BE PATIENT AND UNDERSTAND WHY SERVICE MIGHT BE SLOWER THAN USUAL THESE DAYS. EMILY TENCER, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. DA