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Few strings are attached. New employees must be hired before Ch'i opens and they must work at least 90 days to earn the bonus. Emi Guerra, cofounder of Breakwater Hospitality Group and a partner in Ch'i, says the shortage of hospitality-industry workers isn't limited to Miami. "It's really a national problem. Everyone in the hospitality industry speaks to each other, and this is a universal problem." Guerra says that when the pandemic hit, employees at restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels were the hardest hit. Some filed for unemployment and are still collecting, while others have moved on to other cities or other jobs. "People had to make career changes. That's something to do with the lack of talented candidates."
The restaurant is set to open in Brickell in the next few weeks. To ensure they're fully staffed, they're offering $1,000 bonuses to all new front- and back-of-house employees. Few strings are attached. New employees must be hired before Ch'i opens and they must work at least 90 days to earn the bonus. Emi Guerra, cofounder of Breakwater Hospitality Group and a partner in Ch'i, says the shortage of hospitality-industry workers isn't limited to Miami. "It's really a national problem. Everyone in the hospitality industry speaks to each other, and this is a universal problem." Guerra says that when the pandemic hit, employees at restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels were the hardest hit. Some filed for unemployment and are still collecting, while others have moved on to other cities or other jobs. "People had to make career changes. That's something to do with the lack of talented candidates."
Almost immediately, the name drew criticism as being culturally insensitive — perhaps most notably from Miami Herald food editor Carlos Frías. He expressed his disapproval on social media, tweeting, "Imagine if a couple of rich, light-skinned Hispanic guys from Miami opened a restaurant called Los Negros. I just got an email pitch about something just as offensive. Be better, Miami." Imagine if a couple of rich, light-skinned Hispanic guys from Miami opened a restaurant called Los Negros. I just got an email pitch about something just as offensive. Be better, Miami.— Carlos Frías (@Carlos_Frias) September 23, 2020 Meanwhile, the partners went about working up a menu and design for the new venture and began populating their social-media pages with visual teases of the forthcoming restaurant that contained stereotypical props accompanied by corny puns.