Despite Minnesota's unemployment numbers looking better than national unemployment numbers, some Minnesota business owners say they are having a tough time finding employees to fill vacancies.
"It's been rather difficult to find help to come back to our coffee shops since we've been able to reopen to a certain percent," said Christian Ochsendorf, who owns several Dunn Brothers coffee shops in Minnesota.
Ochsendorf told WCCO Radio's Adam Carter on Tuesday morning that he was forced to close one of the shops due to staffing and low sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"With the staffing, we haven't had people applying for nearly three months at some of our stores," Ochsendorf said. "We've actually had people trying to poach the workers we have, so it's kind of hard to keep them."
Ochsendorf believes part of the reason people aren't applying is because they are earning more money by not working.
Relief bills passed by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to receive criticism as those receiving jobless benefits get an additional $300 a week.
On Monday, President Biden said his administration is taking steps so employers have an easier time hiring employees, making it clear that people cannot take advantage of the unemployment benefits.
"We’re going to make it clear to anyone collecting unemployment who is offered a suitable job they must take the job or lose their unemployment benefits," Biden said
Ochsendorf said he is given the ability to decide as a franchisee what he wants to pay employees. He said they are working to find the "sweet spot" so the wages work for them while getting quality employees.
"We're always open to ideas," he said. "Whether it's free food while they're working or free beverages while they're not working. We're trying to find something that's going to get and keep quality employees."