Hospitality staff shortage hard to swallow
RESTAURATEUR Lucy Baker is on the hunt for quality hospitality staff, saying there is a shortage of skilled industry professionals in the state.
Ms Baker is part of the Baker family-run businesses that include St Albi’s, tucked away in a Moonah backstreet, and popular Salamanca restaurant Rockwall.
She said the collapse of Dinner by Heston and the wages scandal was an opportunity. “It got us thinking … now there are hundreds of talented hospitality workers unemployed,” she said.
“In Tasmania we give people the opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
“We hear often of local restaurants struggling to get committed hospitality staff for the front of house and the kitchen. We want staff who see hospitality as a career and take their job seriously. It is hard to find good staff.”
She said since St Albi’s opened in 2015 conditions had changed, which presented a challenge. “There are a lot more eateries and venues,” she said. “Staff were already a small pool, and then the pool gets smaller.”
Ms Baker said not many people wanted to cement themselves in the hospitality industry and many workers were casual and worked in the industry while studying.
“Of St Albi’s 20 FOH staff, only three would share my passion,” she said.
They have two or three full-time jobs available for front of house between their two restaurants in senior positions and numerous casual positions to fill.
“We hear from our peers there are many positions to fill,” Rockwall co-owner Garry Baker said.
“We know for a fact there are hundreds out of work with the celebrity chefs scandals, so why not use the wonderful lifestyle we have here to lure high-quality talent from interstate.”
Employees of Dinner by Heston were underpaid more than $4 million in wages.