Hospitality workers could receive up to $1000 in bonuses under bold plan to attract staff

Hospitality operators as scrambling for staff, with the industry shedding almost 100,000 workers across the country since the pandemic began.

Hospitality workers would receive bonuses for taking up jobs and saying in them, under a proposal put together by the state opposition in conjunction with the Restaurant and Catering Association.

The plan would see a $250 bonus for working 10 days in 30, which doubles to $500 for those working 30 days on 90.

A $500 bonus would also be available for those taking up hospitality jobs in regional Victoria.

Chief executive of Restaurant and Catering Australia, Wes Lambert, says many desperate businesses are already offering bonuses to staff.

“We’ve heard of bonuses into the thousands of dollars,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“We’ve heard of some businesses so desperate (they’re) paying servers, baristas, bartenders up to $40 to $50 per hour.”

Mr Lambert said if the situation doesn’t change soon, it “could spell disaster for some businesses”.

“Thousands of businesses are reporting that they normally were open six to seven days a week, doing two or three meal periods and are now only open four or five days a week doing one or two meal periods,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear more about the proposal to pay bonuses to hospitality workers