Ducey can’t force jobless into needed work

Gov. Doug Ducey can force Arizonans collecting jobless benefits to look for work, but he can’t force them to go clean hotel rooms, cook, wash dishes or serve food where they are apparently needed the most.

Later this month, some 200,000 Arizonans still collecting unemployment benefits will be required to show proof that they’re serious about getting work.

Ducey’s mandate squarely aims to help a particular industry that’s having a heck of a time finding workers.

“Many businesses are struggling to fill positions, especially those in the restaurant and hospitality sectors,’’ Ducey said on Monday in explaining his new executive order.

This isn’t just an Arizona problem. Restaurants and the hospitality industry across the nation are facing a workers’ shortage and the likes of Ducey seem to be blaming unemployment benefits.

The Republican governor isn’t totally off in his assessment, but he should be ashamed of it. Instead of addressing workers’ financial needs, he’s dropping the sledgehammer on them to help employers.

Think about it. Ducey is basically acknowledging that staying at home and collecting not-so-great unemployment is still better for families than toiling in restaurants and hotels.

Put it differently. Arizona employers in these industries can’t or won’t compete with jobless benefits – currently set at $540 per week with the temporary federal subsidy.

Otherwise, workers would be tripping over each to get those jobs, right?

Democratic state Sen. Martín Quezada put it best: “Arizona does not have an employee shortage – it has a ‘workers willing to be exploited’ shortage.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly changed workers’ attitudes and priorities, which means they may never return to those kinds of jobs — unless they’re compensated adequately.

And it’s about time.

The restaurant and hospitality industry is notorious for paying tipped workers sub-minimum wages as long as their tips amount to at least the minimum wage.

The hourly wage in Arizona is $12.15. Tip workers like food servers and bartenders have to ingratiate themselves to customers to earn a bit or a lot more than the minimum wage.

The pandemic, however, has put all sorts of financial and emotional strains on Americans, and they’re re-evaluating everything, including their employment worth.

The next few weeks will be crucial. Will restaurants and hospitality employers lure workers with more money and other incentives, or will they merely rely on Ducey’s sledgehammer?

Arizona’s jobless benefits will drop to the ridiculous $240 per week once the federal COVID-19 subsidy ends. Workers at that point will have no option but to take a job.

And still, nobody can force them to go clean hotel rooms, wash dishes, cook or become servers — for any amount, much less low wages.