Restaurants in the Cincinnati area eager for applications after the state cuts federal unemployment benefits

Ohio is the last state to stop participating in the $ 300 weekly state unemployment program. DeWine announced that the program, which is designed to give the unemployed a weekly boost during the pandemic, would end on June 26th. The original plan was for the program to make the supplement available by September 6th. WLWT spoke to several Cincinnati business owners who were hoping that the end of the Weekly Employment Bonus would lead people to want to apply for jobs in their restaurants, bars, and bakeries. Tostados Grill in Columbia-Tusculum says there has been a surge in applicants since the state stopped the federal bonus program over the weekend. At my restaurant here, they can only make $ 300 in tips a week – more than that. At least $ 300 just tip plus salary and I need people to work. I think it’s very important that our governor decide that they cut the $ 300, ”said Hugo Tostado, Tostado grill owner. Tostados currently hires five seats in all positions of the bar and grill. Tostado says he doesn’t incentivize new employees, instead using extra cash to give to use his remaining staff. In Hyde Park, the owner of The Echo says she hasn’t seen a surge in applicants since the state withdrew from the federal program. Owner Stephanie Surgeon says one reason could be “The Awakening” because of the pandemic career shift. “So I think there are a lot of very excellent people in the industry,” said Surgeon. “It’s not that they just sit at home and are unemployed. You have decided to change and have already got a job that does something different. Time vacancies from waiter to cook. Like Tostado, Surgeon does not incentivize new hires, but instead redirects additional funds to employees currently working during the pandemic. She said her restaurants still haven’t returned to full operating hours due to a staff shortage. Both owners believe there will be an increase in applicants, but slowly. Tostado told WLWT he hopes to see more applicants after the July 4th vacation weekend. He said if he can’t hire enough people, Tostados will have trouble filling tables to generate enough income to keep up with inflation. To find out more about job opportunities at The Echo, click here. To learn more about openings at Tostados Grill, click here.

CINCINNATI –

Ohio will be the last state to stop participating in the $ 300 weekly state unemployment bonus program.

Governor DeWine announced that the program, which aims to give the unemployed a weekly boost during the pandemic, would end on June 26. The original plan was for the supplement to be available by September 6th.

WLWT spoke to several Cincinnati business owners who hoped the end of the weekly employment bonus would encourage people to apply for jobs at their restaurants, bars and bakeries.

Tostados Grill in Columbia-Tusculum says there has been a surge in applicants since the state stopped the federal bonus program over the weekend.

“At my restaurant here, they can only make $ 300 in tips a week – more than that. At least $ 300 in tips plus salary and I need people to work. I think it’s very important that our governor decides that they’ll get the $ 300, ”said Hugo Tostado, Tostado grill owner.

Tostado’s is currently looking for five seats in all positions of the bar and grill. Tostado says he doesn’t incentivize new hires, but instead uses extra cash to give bonuses to his remaining employees.

In Hyde Park, the owner of The Echo says she hasn’t seen a surge in applicants since the state withdrew from the federal program. Owner Stephanie Surgeon says one reason could be “The Awakening” because of the pandemic career shift.

“I think there are a lot of very excellent people in the industry,” said Surgeon. “It’s not that they are just sitting at home and unemployed. They have decided to change and have already got a job that does something different. So our pool of people has shrunk.”

The Echo currently has five full-time positions ranging from server to chef. Like Tostado, Surgeon does not incentivize new hires, but instead redirects additional funds to employees currently working during the pandemic. She said her restaurants are still not returning to full operating hours due to staff shortages.

Both owners expect there will be an increase in applicants, but slowly. Tostado told WLWT he hopes to see more applicants after the July 4th vacation weekend. He said if he can’t hire enough staff, Tostados will struggle to fill tables to generate enough income to keep up with inflation.

To learn more about openings with The Echo, click here. To learn more about openings at Tostados Grill, click here.