The Lounge Board

Joined: 10/07/1999 Posts: 15025
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Anyone else really starting to be concerned about workforce shortages?

For a while, it was just an inconvenience. But many restaurants are understaffed causing them to either close or cut back on their hours. There are annoying things such as fast food places not opening the dining room and having insane lines in the drive-through or lack of workers for VT concessions causing long lines (now they're just reducing what they offer to help make it quicker). We tried to get some food here in Christiansburg tonight and every place was packed and drive-thru lines were backed out into the road.
But other things are troubling for me at least. Our school is cutting back on its menu and offering reduced items due to supply chain issues. And it's a weekly thing that they have to change what they're having because they didn't get the delivery (frozen corndog nuggets again kids!).
This week the county canceled our Curriculum Development team meetings for the year (I'm on the Social Studies curriculum team) due to the inability to get enough substitutes. And now when a teacher is out sick, we end up dividing their kids up among other teachers because we can't find subs. A local county is starting to close early on some days due to staffing issues. We don't have enough bus drivers and are barely getting by, by having the mechanics drive the busses.
I also am not able to get another special ed aide in my classroom for kids that need it. I have 2 students that should have 1 on 1 special ed services (keep in mind that our county is fully inclusive, so special ed students are mainstreamed in the regular ed classrooms). But I only have 1 aide to cover the 2 autisic students and the other 2 special needs students in my room. It's absolute insanity in my classroom and it's not fair to my class. I feel like shi# that I am not teaching them like they deserve. But cuts have to be made and nobody is applying.
We also have struggled to find an in-home helper for my special needs daughter. This causes us to miss work for her and is extremely problematic.
I know several amazing teachers and special ed teachers who say they are looking for other jobs due to these things. It's truly overwhelming. I, myself, am not sure if I'll make it all year.
I am just worried that there are about to be major problems beyond some "inconveniences". Can anybody give me some positive news for the future?
Sorry for the rant....and mispellings. Yes, the whiskey is smooth tonight.

Posted: 10/03/2021 at 12:00AM

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Anyone else really starting to be concerned about workforce shortages? -- HokieGator 10/03/2021 12:00AM

I agree, and you haven't even touched on the medical profession.... -- RUHokie 10/03/2021 5:22PM

This is why I can't wrap my head around those celebrating... -- MP4VT2004 10/03/2021 5:53PM

Have they consolidated their special needs kids into your classroom -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 5:20PM

Lot of bad workers and service before the pandemic -- lchoro 10/03/2021 12:25PM

What will happen first; the economy collapses or people will go back to -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 10:40AM

Eventually, it will correct itself, creating higher inflation. -- Tank 10/03/2021 10:39AM

It could be worse... -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 09:13AM

No one is safe: -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 09:12AM

Have no fear…the government will step in and save us all. -- vthokieq 10/03/2021 08:43AM

"We the people" ARE the government -- Hokie Fiji 10/03/2021 10:01AM

The corrupt 2-party system ensures we only have a choice of criminal A or B ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:20AM

The two party system could work -- RTFC 10/03/2021 12:26PM

This starts at the party level with purity tests. Qualified people with -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 5:25PM

Your reasoning is why we have the 2 party system… -- vthokieq 10/03/2021 4:54PM

Having parties - regardless of number - that only want people -- RTFC 10/03/2021 5:05PM

I don’t think is what the parties want at all. -- vthokieq 10/03/2021 5:24PM

I agree, never said what I inferred is what the parties want -- RTFC 10/03/2021 6:03PM

Ok…not really sure what you’re trying to say then. -- vthokieq 10/03/2021 6:08PM

Yep, I see how that could be read different -- RTFC 10/03/2021 6:20PM

Gotcha ** -- vthokieq 10/03/2021 6:22PM

The actually people, not the politicians, on both sides have WAYYY MOOORE -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 12:30PM

Our binary political culture is a huge contributor to the problem -- Hokie Fiji 10/03/2021 10:24AM

Yep. And that have us punching left/right or down, instead of punching up, -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:26AM

Also keeps us at odds with each other -- Hokie Fiji 10/03/2021 10:29AM

Yep. That's the punching left/right I said. It's a distraction/misderection ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:31AM

Not helped by social and major media "stoking the flames." ** -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 10:30AM

Completely agree. As a collective “we” get what “we” deserve. ** -- vthokieq 10/03/2021 10:06AM

Hang in there HokieGator -- turkeywinghokie 10/03/2021 08:33AM

I don't really have any hope that things will ever be back... -- MP4VT2004 10/03/2021 08:30AM

My brother and I just had breakfast…he works in Vegas -- MrBayAreaHokie 10/03/2021 10:04AM

Hospitals have done this -- LaneRat 10/04/2021 1:11PM

Well you successfully identified HALF of the problem ... -- Vippie1 10/03/2021 10:00AM

Higher minimum wage = higher cost of goods/svcs... -- MP4VT2004 10/03/2021 11:25AM

Define "living wage" ** -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 10:42AM

There are plenty of economics out there -- Vippie1 10/03/2021 11:10AM

Self inflicted when society determined two-income families were the norm -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 11:54AM

Most of the benefits go to billionaires and corporations. The true welfare. ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 12:22PM

That isn't remotely true. The top 1.5% pay 50%+ of the taxes. The bottom -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 2:34PM

And we’re in deep trouble when 50% of voters are living off of govt -- DonHo-kieHi 10/03/2021 4:41PM

An ever growing dependent class that will continue to vote benefits for -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 4:51PM

Maybe in an absolute value, but not relative. A lot of pay zero taxes. ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 2:44PM

Very few pay nothing. They just pay at investment income rates ** -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 3:25PM

Unemployment benefits for months, don’t have to pay rent, checks every -- DonHo-kieHi 10/03/2021 08:38AM

The only way to fix it is to start evaluating people for actual need. -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 08:54AM

Interesting that data shows evictions have remained steady if not dropped -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 10:44AM

A recent thread on the Sabre on mechanics staffing issues -- TabbHokie 10/03/2021 07:37AM

Don’t tell me that. I just dropped off the Ho for a rear main seal job -- HOKIE 10/03/2021 09:04AM

Another reason people should be doing the easy jobs themselves. ** -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 08:38AM

I performed a tracheotomy on myself just yesterday. ** -- PhotoHokieNC 10/03/2021 09:09AM

As long as you don't perform that on anyone else... ** -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 09:21AM

I do my own dental work :/ ** -- FfxStationHokie 10/03/2021 08:47AM

Me too. It's called brushing and flossing...lol -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 08:52AM

You da man! I preached that for 41 yrs but some are too damn dense to -- DonHo-kieHi 10/03/2021 4:45PM

So simple, yet so difficult for some to complete...lol ** -- EDGEMAN 10/03/2021 5:20PM

You'll make it because you're are a real professional and care -- Happy Dog 10/03/2021 06:53AM

I get a couple emails a week now from headhunters -- MrBayAreaHokie 10/03/2021 06:42AM

I have some data im watching....not good. Media is awol. ** -- ColoVT82 10/03/2021 01:58AM

Ding…. BTW we’re down about a third in staff -- Vtskier1 10/03/2021 09:24AM

Take it from the absurd defense budget. Problem solved! ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:23AM

You mis-spelled grant reform.... :) ** -- Vtskier1 10/03/2021 12:26PM

Defense budget is down to 3% of GDP. Certainly some fluff but it's not -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 10:46AM

It's more than the next 10 largest budgets, and most of them are our allies ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:57AM

Yes. The result of long ago treaties where we agreed to protect certain -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 11:46AM

IIWII, but so it the money needed to be spent on infrastructure and people ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 11:48AM

Our infrastructure is not nearly as bad as the government plays it up to be -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 11:56AM

Neither is the reconciliation bill. it's a 10-year spend and more needed -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 11:58AM

1/3 is personnel and 1/3 is O&M of existing facilities. The "lining the -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 12:08PM

We are certainly living in strange times... -- chemhokie 10/03/2021 01:29AM

The labor shortages are a huge problem. Empty grocery store shelves. -- RoswellGAHokie 10/03/2021 12:17AM

Mass testing is cheap and effective - Dogs -- MsAHokie 10/03/2021 05:53AM

I heard the labor shortages were going away Sept 1st when the unemployment -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 12:53AM

The Treasury Dept announced -- VTUD 10/03/2021 12:02PM

Ahh gotcha, hadn't heard that. Thanks. ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 12:04PM

Still a lot of other pandemic benefits out there to be had ** -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 10:48AM

That's different ** -- FfxStationHokie 10/03/2021 08:47AM

In what way? I was told that was what's holding up the workforce and would -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:13AM

Really? Or is that just politicians saying that to save face? Other factors -- DonHo-kieHi 10/03/2021 08:44AM

I was talking about posters on here. But the repubs said that too. So why -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:12AM

No child care. It's now the #1 hindrance in the service industry ** -- 133743Hokie 10/03/2021 10:49AM

Agreed. ** -- NokieHokie 10/03/2021 10:57AM

Will be interesting if those losing their job due to vax mandates will -- HokieGator 10/03/2021 12:26AM

They caused themselves to be unemployed ** -- capitals1 10/03/2021 06:07AM

That's a great attitude until you need medical services & there's not... -- RUHokie 10/03/2021 3:47PM

Solution..1st ones not to treat are unvaccinated covid -- capitals1 10/03/2021 4:59PM

Such a wrong, anti-science take. Doesn't even make sense. -- RUHokie 10/04/2021 12:30AM

He's talking about those who provide treatment. We're screwed without -- HokiesBill48 10/03/2021 8:33PM

I saw that NY was calling up Reservist to help in hospitals. Correct me if -- HokieGator 10/03/2021 4:26PM

And then what happens when a minority is let go for not getting the vax -- TheNuke 10/03/2021 12:39AM

Or the thousands of illegals coming in w/o vaccinations or covid tests. -- AZHokie59 10/03/2021 12:54AM

...and Panama just reported -- VTUD 10/03/2021 12:05PM

I don’t blame them. -- TabbHokie 10/03/2021 2:45PM

...and the -- VTUD 10/03/2021 4:39PM

They want them to enter illegally. As many as they can get in and they -- HokiesBill48 10/03/2021 10:23PM

Werent the vax requirements for illegal students in schools -- One4VT 10/03/2021 07:58AM

Science ** -- ColoVT82 10/03/2021 02:00AM

Anyone else really starting to be concerned about workforce shortages?

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