Restauranters across Australia, are seeking creative ways to overcome staff shortages, with Sydney Restaurant Group offering a $5000 sign-on bonus to all new team members, from dishwashers to managers.
The group, founded in 2000 by Bill Drakopoulos is a family operation that includes high-end restaurants across Sydney from Aqua Dining at Milsons Point, Ormeggio at The Spit and Ripples Chowder Bay.
Speaking with Financial Review, Bill’s son and co-owner of the group, Daniel said: “A lot of companies are doing $1000 to $2000 sign-on bonuses, but we are willing to get the best, and we’re willing to pay.”
Daniel is hopeful the financial incentive will see the group employ the additional 100 to 150 staff they require and will be available to people willing to work full-time for six months on a regular shift roster.
According to the latest ABS data, Australia’s unemployment rate is at a 48-year-low of 3.5% with inflation hitting 6.8% in June, the highest price growth since late 1990.
“We’re copping the brunt of price increases, wage increases, cost of goods increases, we inevitably had to put up our prices ever so slightly, not to be profitable, but to stay afloat,” Daniel said.
“There are a lot of unforeseen costs that people don’t realise, like increasing gas prices, increasing rents, increasing cost of goods.”
Source: Financial Review
