The labour narrative being spread by Canadian business owners has been that federal benefits like CERB and later CRB have kept workers from taking jobs – leading to a “labour shortage.”
We’re about to see that theory tested as benefits end for many people.
Labour experts counter the business owner narrative by saying many workers are simply re-evaluating their priorities when it comes to work – looking for jobs that pay better, have paid sick days and shifts that don’t change from day to day.
One company in Burnaby that has had trouble filling jobs is Starbucks, which operates all across the city.
Now, Starbucks Canada says it's raising wages and benefits amid "critical staffing shortages."
Beginning in January, the company says its starting wages will be increased to a dollar above provincial minimums, while workers who have been with the company a year will receive a six to 10 per cent pay hike.
It says the wage boost, which will impact about 20,000 workers, will bring the hourly pay for baristas to between $13 and $20.45, depending on location and tenure, while shift supervisors will earn between $15.85 and $24.95. In B.C., the minimum wage rose to $15.20 as of June 1.
Starbucks also says it's providing every hourly worker in Canada with three paid shifts off per calendar year for sick days or family care, along with ongoing perks such as free coffee, a subscription to a meditation app and health and dental care.
The higher wages and benefits come as the coffee company says it has added recruiting specialists to address "critical staffing shortages and difficulties" in some markets.
Starbucks, which refers to workers as partners, says it's also investing in additional training and new technologies and processes to improve day-to-day tasks in its coffee shops.
The company says the operational and wage investments are designed to retain and recruit the best people and "affirm Starbucks as one of the very best jobs in retail."
Starbucks has about 963 company operated stores and 441 licensed stores in Canada.
The company has reduced the number of stores in Burnaby in the past two years, cutting locations in such places as Metropolis at Metrotown and on Lougheed Highway in the Brentwood area.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
