by JILLIAN CHANDLER
Article added: 06-07-2022
Whether you own a business or are employed by one, you know that the past couple of years have been tough for most—if not all—businesses, much in part due to the pandemic. And once it was time to get back to business, it seemed as though the employee pool had diminished.
“The last two-plus years have been challenging, and businesses all over town have really had to rethink the way they do things to adapt,” shares Kelley Kennedy, who co-owns The Fat Pig with Brett Mullinder.
The pair believes several factors have contributed to the dwindling workforce in the restaurant industry, most notably the cost of living, more opportunities for people to work from home, and a shift with the younger workers. “Restaurants have always been a pipeline to bring kids into the workforce. Many people, including both of us, found their first jobs dishwashing and prep cooking. It’s very hard to find someone willing to do these types of jobs,” says Kelley. “These changes have done some good things for this community as well, and that deserves to be mentioned. The demand for workers has led to a dramatic increase in wages—which was long overdue in this area.”
Brett and Kelley are currently looking to fill several positions in both the kitchen and front of the house and are willing to train someone with little to no experience. Kitchen positions start at $15 per hour, “with lots of opportunity for growth,” smiles Kelley. “We have a great group of employees at the moment and would love to bring more people into our mix.”
For those with a heart to serve, Sandpoint Area Seniors Inc. may be the place for you. With a mission to address food insecurity and social isolation among seniors in the Sandpoint area, SASI is a wonderful asset to the community. They are currently looking to fill several positions, including a chef and prep cook, as well someone to help with their nutrition program. Hours are part time, making this an ideal place of employment for those looking to supplement their income, such as someone who is newly retired. And if you’re not in search of work but volunteerism, Sandpoint Area Seniors is always looking for drivers for their home delivery meal program for homebound seniors. The best way to apply is to stop in the Senior Center and drop off your resume.
Sandpoint’s hometown hospital is actively seeking employees who are passionate about health care and caring for the community. Offering competitive salary and benefits packages, Bonner General Health has both non-clinical and clinical positions available. They offer work-life balance and full benefits for both full-time and part-time positions. “I encourage all job seekers to visit our careers page at BonnerGeneral.org and review our open positions,” says Tammy Palaniuk, recruiter for BGH. “We welcome you to become part of our Bonner General Health family!”
Also hiring is the Litehouse YMCA, which is looking for engaged, qualified employees who would like to lifeguard, teach swim lessons and run youth programming. They are also hiring for positions at their membership service desk as well as their youth development department. “At the Y, you have a chance to positively impact someone’s life every day,” affirms Heidi Bohall, Branch executive of YMCA of the Inland Northwest. “Regardless of what department you are working in, you are part of a larger team whose overall goal is to meet the needs of our community in an impactful way.”
All employees receive a free YMCA membership for themselves, and those who regularly work more than 20 hours per week also receive a membership for their immediate family. Employees are eligible for health benefits as well as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
“We have worked hard to increase wages over the past two years to be competitive in the market,” says Heidi. “Without drastically increasing our membership rates, the process is slower than the community would like to see, but we are continually working on having our wages as competitive as possible and are proud to be able to offer our staff some unique perks.”
The Fat Pig, Bonner General Health, Sandpoint Area Seniors and the YMCA are just a small sampling of all the wonderful places in town who give back to the community in their own way. And they’re ready for you to join them. What are you waiting for?
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