'We've lost a core section of our workforce,' local businesses pushing for staff to return Updated: 1:07 PM CDT May 8, 2021 Share Updated: 1:07 PM CDT May 8, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript ARBERY? AUBRY: --AUBRY? GINA: -- AUBRY: GINA, RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING READY TO SEE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS THIS WEEKEND BUT SOME ARE NOT SURE THEY CAN KEEP UP AS THEY ARE FACING A CRITICAL STAFFING SHORTAGE. >> WE ARE GOING OUTSIDE PATIO THREE. AUBRY: ERIC COOK IS THE OWNER OF GRIS GRIS RESTAURANT ON MAGAZINE >> WE’VE LOST A CORE SECTION OF OUR WORKFORCE. AUBRY: TYPICALLY, HE HAS ABOUT 45 EMPLOYEES. RIGHT NOW, HE HAS 25. COOK SAYS WHILE SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE STAYING ON UNEMPLOYMENT, HE SAYS THE PANDEMIC PUT A MASSIVE MENTAL TOLL ON RESTAURANT WORKERS AND MANY GOT OUT OF THE INDUSTRY FOR GOOD. >> WHAT PEOPLE ARE FAILING TO REALIZE OR OVERLOOK, I THINK, IS THAT OUR INDUSTRY DIED WE WERE -- DIED, WE WERE DEAD. COMPLETELY. WE WERE DEAD. SOME NEVER CAME BACK TO LIFE AND THAT CORE WORKING CLASS THAT WE HAD IN OUR INDUSTRY THEY HAD TO PIVOT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND MAKE A MOVE THEY SHIFTED INTO OTHER CAREERS. >> UNEMPLOYMENT IS PAYING WELL TO BE HONEST. AUBRY: AND CROIX MCCLENDON WITH CAFE RECONCILE SAYS THAT’S ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AREN’T RETURNING. HE SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS AND PAY INCENTIVES. >> YOU GET BURNT OUT. >> I AM SORRY, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE BOOKED SOLID UNTIL MONDAY. AUBRY: JOHN HARKINS IS A LOCAL FLORIST. >> WE CANNOT MEET THE DEMAND. AUBRY: HE’S LOST MOST HIS STAFF AND IS HAVING TURN CUSTOMERS AWAY FOR MOTHER’S DAY. THE PANDEMIC HAS ALSO DELAYED SHIPPING. >> THIS HAS BEEN AN ESPECIALLY BAD YEAR BECAUSE OF LOCKDOWN IN ECUADOR AND THINGS ARE GETTING BOTTLENECKED IN MIAMI, GETTING THE FLOWERS TO US. WE HAD 31 BOXES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE LAST MONDAY. AUBRY: BACK AT COOK’S RESTAURANT HE SAYS HE’S GOING TO HIS BEST THIS WEEKEND AND HOPES THE INDUSTRY CAN BOUNCE BACK. >> I THINK THE CRISIS IS STILL CARRYING ON FOR INDUSTRY, BUT THERE IS NOBODY STRONGER THAN RESTAURANT PEOPLE. WE ARE ALWAYS RESILIENT. AUBRY: DEFINITELY KEEPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. CAFE RECONCILE IS A LOCAL NON -PROFIT. THEY HELP PEOPLE BREAK