SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. — I think finding reliable employees has always been a difficult process.
And it’s gotten harder the last few years due to worker demand for higher wages; an anti-work, anti-authority attitude that seems to be growing; and just a plain shortage of people who want to work in a laundromat.
In Part 1, we ran through a few options for searching for and finding new employees, each with its pros and cons. Let’s conclude with a handful more.
Retirees — There are senior citizens out there who may find retirement a little boring. Some may also be finding that their retirement income isn’t holding up as they had planned and therefore are looking for a little part-time job.
These could be highly qualified people who had successful careers but are now retired and looking for a way to get out of the house and earn a few bucks.
Check your local retirement centers for any leads; I recommend visiting personally and leaving some of your business cards. You can also Google job websites specific to seniors.
Pay Attention to People who Follow Up — You veteran store owners know how frustrating it can be when you book an appointment with an applicant, and they don’t show up. No calls, no messages. They just don’t show.
It can be aggravating, but look at it this way. They did you a favor. Do you really want someone like that who doesn’t keep their word? It’s a major red flag.
So if they show up a day or a week later looking for the job, telling some kind of “story” that may even be true, I don’t recommend hiring them, even if you’re desperate for help. You’ll surely regret it if you do.
Consider Installing Air Conditioning — Nobody likes working in a hot, sweaty environment, including you. More importantly, you’ll do more business year-round.
Here’s why: Many customers will get into the habit of using your mat all summer long and so will continue to patronize it into the fall and beyond.
If you were thinking about putting in AC but couldn’t justify the expense, the prospect of attracting and retaining quality employees is another reason to consider it.
Consider Hiring Individuals with a Mental or Physical Disability — People who are disabled in one way or another can be challenged in many different ways. But some of their challenges may be suitable for you.
If you can find a spot for someone who has a mental or physical disability, you may end up with an excellent, motivated worker who really appreciates the job, simply because few businesses may think of hiring the disabled.
I employed a man who suffered from polio. He worked for me for years and was fantastic! He was extremely reliable, he looked after the store as if it were his own, our customers loved him, and he put in more work than some of his non-disabled co-workers.
Think about the possibilities of hiring a person who needs to use a wheelchair. After all, laundromats were mandated many years ago to be wheelchair-accessible, so your place may already be set up to accommodate them.
How About the Hearing-Impaired? — Many have their own tools and apps to assist them. Even so, you can use Siri Dictation to transcribe voice to text on your Apple cellphone, or Google Translate on other cellphone types. Bingo – you just opened the door to hire them!
Consider Hiring People with Down Syndrome — Some people with Down syndrome are high-functioning and capable of holding a job. You may have seen individuals like this working in supermarkets and big box stores.
“Johnny the Bagger” is the amazing true story of a young man with Down syndrome who became famous nationally for coming up with a unique way to express his appreciation for every customer in the supermarket where he worked, transforming the store in the process. (Watch “The Story of Johnny the Bagger | Barbara Glanz” on YouTube to learn how Johnny’s simple personal touch demonstrates how business owners can touch our customers’ hearts.)
The National Down Syndrome Society has an employment section for those who are capable enough to be employed. The Society has local chapters all over the country and will often send in an aide, paid for by Medicaid, to help the applicant learn the job, and to monitor how things are going for both employer and employee. As this new worker learns, the aide will slowly back off.
All parties involved want the match to be successful. It can be a win for you and, more importantly, a win for your new employee who can feel proud that he/she is useful and needed!
Additionally, the IRS offers the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for small businesses who hire individuals with disabilities: “The credit provides employers incentives to hire qualified individuals from these target groups. The maximum tax credit ranges from $1,200 to $9,600, depending on the employee hired and the length of employment. The credit is available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. This includes people with disabilities and veterans.”
Visit https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/work-opportunity-tax-credit to learn more.
If you’re having trouble finding good, reliable employees, I hope these suggestions have given you some options to think about.
I wish you the best in your search for good, reliable employees.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
